New-York tribune., 1902-12-23
NO ACCEPTANCE YET.
President Not Officially Requested To Act
as Arbitrator.
cRr The Associated PressD

washirgton, Dec. 22-President Roosevelt has
not accepted the post Of arbitrator IN the Neiie%
uelan controversy. In fact when the o4lclai
dav closed he had not received, formally or ON
cis1lv. 2 request from the European powers that
he ec+ as arbitrator OF the dispute These state
rnents are made on the highest authority.
In an informal manner the President has re-
ceived notice that the European powers IN
tiu1ately concerned in the difficulty desire that
he should undertake the responsibility Of acting
ss arbitrator of the points at issue between
them ard Venezuela Thus far they merely
have been taking "soundings" with a view
-robahlv Of ascertainilg how he would receive
a formal request to act as arbitrator The
President. as soon as he received the first in
tirnation that he was desired arbitrator Of the
Venezuelan controversy, emphatically expressed
his iudgnent that the matters TO be arbitrafed
should be referred to The Hague tribunal His
view of the suggestions made has been con
veyed TO the European powers. together Win
strong presentation Of his reasons for the view
he holds No response Of formal nature TO
these representations has been received.
PRESIDENTS OPINION UNCHANGED.
The President and Secretary Hay had long
conference to-day after the formers return from
his Virginia trip. They carefully went over the
situation as it had developed since Saturday,
but il is understood that nothing has arisen in
the last forty-eight hours TO warrant the Presi-
dent In changing his opinion as to the unde-
STABILITY of his acceptance of the place of ar
bitrator. So far can be learned. no specific
reasons have been advanced by the European
powers for objecting TO q reference Of the VeneZ-
uelan questions to the arbitration Of The Hague
tribunal. It is held by the administration that
the tribunal at The Hague was constituted TO
arbitrate just such controversies as that which
has arisen between Venezuela and the powers,
and that il would be desirable from every point
of view that the present dispute should go 10
that tribunal for adjudication. How strong the
objections are which Great Britain, Germany
and Italy have to a reference Of the Venezuelan
difficulty to The Hague tribunal is not known to
the administration at this time. Even the nature
of the objections. If there are any. is not known
The negotiations looking to the selection of an
arbitrator have not yet made sufficient progress
to develop any objections the powers may have.
The acceptance by the powers of the principle
Of arbitration applied to the Venezuelan
question is a matter Of great qualification 10
the President and his Cabinet. That all the
powers have intimated that they would prefer
the President should arbitrate the present dis
pute is taken notable compliment to the
President, both personally and to his admins
tration- It is the hope Of both the President
ana MS ADVISERS, however, that while there is
precedent for his acceptance Of the post Of
arbitrator. the powers Will consent to refer
ence of the Venezuelan question TO the tribunal
at The Hague.
NAY ACT IF POWERS INSIST.
While it IS recognized by the Presidents
closest advisers and by the President himself
that some unpleasant possibilities might attend
his performance Of the duties Of arbitrator. his
friends assert that he win shirk no responsible
ity he may deem II his duty to undertake but
will accept if the powers should insist on IL
although he is extremely reluctant to do So
The State Department has learned that Presi-
dent Castro would welcome the selection of
President Roosevelt arbitrator, and as all
the parties interested are united the pressure
will be hard to resist
It is evident from the developments here that
Germany is the originator and promoter of the
suggestion that President Roosevelt act as arbi-
traitor. Great Britain and Italy it is believed
incline toward arbitration by The Hague tri-
hunal, but Of course they would not indicate
any preference officially if President Roosevelt
gave the faintest intimation Of accepting the
charge. Indeed. officially. the allies stand On
record as supporting the German lead in this
matter.
Advices have been received here from Rome