Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-30
PREPAR|NGMRNE NEXT STEP.
Active Work Begun in Preparation
for Submitting Venezuelan Dis
pute to The Hague.
OUTLINING POINTS TO Be CONSIDERED.

state Department In Communication
with Venezuela and the European
Allies-Gc rmuny Disappointed he
cause President Roosevelt Did Not
Agree to Act ms Arbitrator.
Washington, Dec. 29.-There is now
in progress an active exchange OF
notes between the allied powers.
Venezuela and the United States re-
speeding the method of submitting to
arbitration the issues which have
arisen between Venezuela and the
allies. Questions are being put and
answers are forthcoming, but it is
said that the negotiations are in such
shape that it would be extremely in
iudicious and indiscreet to make each
phase public if there really existed
desire to reach satisfactory Set
Element. 1t is explained at the state
department that the part of the
United States government just now
. is that of good friend" to all par
! ties; that it is not undertaking to
draw up protocols or impose limita-
tions upon the parties, but is con
fning its. Offices to getting them to-
gether and keeping them SO. In this
view it win not be necessary for our
government to prescribe how the
Monroe doctrine shall or shall not
figure in the protocols; it will judge
for itself by results how our inter-
ests are affected, and will not indulge
in premature or uncalled-for pro-
tests.
AS for the terms of the arbitration
agreement it is stated that they are
in fair way to be speedily adjust
4 ed, but nothing can be said of the
details. 1t is presumed that the al
lies will agree to terminate the
blockade, though no stipulation has
< vet been entered into ON that point.
Nothing has been heard recently OF
the part to be taken by United
States Minister Bowen, in the final
settlement, and it begins to appear
that, after all. Venezuela will prob
ably be represented by one of her
own people.
1 Germany Disappointed.
| Berlin, Dec. so.-The German gov
eminent is disappointed by President
Roosevelt's declinatipR to be |! aPrbitra-
| tor in the Venezuelan dispute, but IN
/ pursuance, of his decision will corre-
spond at once with Great Britain and
/ italy on the subsidiary. questions that
| must new be agreed upon, such as
| raising the blockade and the definite
form of request whereby Venezuela
on one side and Germany, Great Brat=
ain and Italy on the other will ask
The Hague tribunal to adjudge the
| dispute. The interchange Of views on
| these and other requirements prob.
!, ahiv will take place at Washington
where the ambassadors can confer
freely with secretar, Hay and obtain
through him President Cas.os ~
sent to the precise propositions. The
German foreign office considers Wash
ington convenient place for further
negotiation. Foreign Secretary Won
Richthofen regrets the long delay
which is likely to ensue before the
final adjustment of the controversy.
| He had relied upon President Roose-
| velt's personality to take up the case
and reach a decision quickly. Baron
Won Richthofen recognizes the declina-
ton is in strict accord with his mes
sage of December in which, referring
to The Hague tribunal. he said:
''It is far better where possible to
invoke such permanent tribunal
than to create special arbitrators for
given purpose"
ceived Secretary Hays note Saturday
morning he had in his desk the sum-
mary of the note transmitted from
Washington by the press. .
| Presidents Note to Italy.
Rome, Dec. 29.-Ambassador Meyer
Saturday presented to the foreign Of
flee President Roosevelt's note on
the subject of Venezuelan arbitration.
The president says that although he is
very gratified at the confidence the
powers have shown in him by chops:
ing him as arbitrator, which position
he would have accepted if there were
no other means of solving the ques.
ton, he thinks it better to submit the
case to The Hague tribunal, especially
as all the powers concerned are will
ing.
The president adds that as there is
no question of national honor or ces-
sion of territory involved, after thor
| ough consideration and in accord with
all the powers concerned, who have
shown IN honorable spirit of mutual
consideration and moderation, he il
glad to be informed that they all have
! agreed to submit the question to The
I Hague tribunal.
Britain Receives Note from Hay.
London, Dec. 29.-The foreign Of
flee officials say note from Secre-
tary Hay similar to those presented
at Rome and Berlin has been received
here. Nothing has yet been decided
regarding the cessation of the block
ade or the terms of the arbitration
protocol.
jamaica Favors Britain.
Kingston, Jamaica, Dec. 29.-The
British West Indian papers unani-
mously support the attitude of
Great Britain regarding Venezuela.
1t is claimed that latterly the neigh.
boring republics have been showing
scant regard for the lives and prop
erty of British residents. Gases Of
apparently uniustifiable imprison-
,nent and fiogging OF British subjects