Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-23
/. THE PRESIDENT
Prefers Not to Arbitrate the
Venezuelan Trouble.
The Hague Tribunal Was Formed for
lust Such Emergencies.
II Powers Insist, However, He May
Possibly Accept.

washington, Dec. 2.-PreSident
Roosevelt has not accepted the posi-
ton of arbitrator of the Venezuelan
controversy. In fact, when the off,
cial day closed he had not received for
mally or officially request from the
European powers that he act as arbi-
trator of the dispute. These statements
are made on the highest authority.
In an informal manner the President
has been notified that the European
powers intimately concerned in the
present South American difficulty de-
sire that he undertake the responsible
ityl of acting as arbitrator of the points
at issue between them and Venezuela.
Thus far they merely have been TAX
ing .'sOundings" with a view, probably.
of ascertaining how he would receive
formal proffer to act as arbitrator.
The President so soon as he received
the first intimation that he was desired
as arbitrator of the Venezuelan con-
troversy. expressed emphatically hts
Judgment that the matters to be arbi-
trated should be referred to The Hague
tribunal. His view of the suggestions
made has been conveyed to the Euro
pean powers, together with strong
presentation of his reasons for the
view he holds. No response of a for
NAL nature to these representations
has been received.
The President and Secretary Hay
had a long conference, today, after the
formers return from his Virginia trip.
They carefully went over the situation
as it had developed since Saturday,
but it is understood that nothing has
arisen during the past 4S hours to war;
rant the President in changing his
opinion as to the undesirability of his
acceptance of the position of arbitrator.
So far as can be learned, no specific
reasons have been advanced by the Eu-
ropean powers for Directing to a refer
ence of the Venezuelan questions to the
arbitration of The Hague tribunal.
1t is held by the administration that
the tribunal at The Hague was con-
stituted to arbitrate just such contro-
verSies and that it would be desirable
from every view point that the present
dispute should go to that tribunal for
adjudication. How strong the objec-
tons which Great Britain, Germany
and Italy have to a reference of the
Venezuelan difficulty to The Hague tri-
bunal are is not known to the admins
tration at this time. Even the nature
of the objections. if any, is not known.
The negotiations looking to the selec-
ton of an arbitrator have not pro-
progressed sufficiently yet to develop
such objections as the powers may
have.
The acceptance by the powers of the
principle of arbitration as applied to
the Venezuelan question is a matter of
great qualification to the President and
his cabinet. That all the powers have
intimated. too, that they would prefer
the President should arbitrate the pres
ent dispute is taken as q notable COM
pliment to the President personally and
to his administration. 1t is the hope
of both the President and his advisers,
however. that while there is precedent
for his acceptance of the post of arbi
traitor. the powers will consent to ref
erenca of the controverted matters in
the Venezuelan question to the tribunal
at The Hague.
While it is recognized by the Pres-
dents closest advisers and by the Pres
ident himself that some unpleasant
possibilities might attend his perform
ance of duties of arbitrator of the pres
ent pending Venezuelan difficulty, his
friends assert that he will shirk no re-
sponsibilty that he may see his duty to
undertake. but will accept if the powers
should insist on it, though he is very
reluctant to do So