Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-29
LONDON SORRY
ROOSEVELT
DECLINED
BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT is
EXPRESSED THAT PRESI-
DENT COULDN'T SETTLE THE.
VENEZUELAN QUESTION.


LONDON, Dec. 27.--When the news that
President Roosevelt had declined to act as
arbitrator i'm the Venezuelan dispute be-
came known this morning. it did not ere
aate much If any. surprise. because some
thing more than fear had been entertained
for some days that such might be his de-
cision.
But that everybody was disappointed
there is no ,gainsaying, the general feeling
being that it would have been much more
satisfactory had the president of the
United States consented to arbitrate. than
sending the case to The Hague tribunal,
This disappointment Is well reflected in
the. editorial columns Or the evening pa
pefs. The ST. James Gazette says:
The decision is one We sincerely, regret
though we do not doubt that Il has been
dictated BY Imperative considerations Of
policy bearing on the whole situa ton es-
pecialIy as it AFFECTS tie United states.
I'VE regret it, first. because we should
have had the utmostf confidence in not
only the rectitude and inpartiality of the
American statesmsn hut also in his ca
pacity to dispose OF the questions at issue
with the least possible friction or delay
a conference that no other available trib-
unal is likely to command.
Secondly, because Ne believe President
Roosevelt's award would have carried
greater weight than any product Of The
Hague with our shifty South American
adversary"
The Evening STANDARD says:
1T is impossible to disguise the fact
that the latest turn given to the Vene-
zuelan dispute will be Regarded with any
thing but favor. by large section Of those
who have inNTSsts stake in that re-
public,
THAT President RIO 6sevelt has declined
to act as arbitrator 4 disappointing, for
there can be little doubt that a statesman
Of the presidents qdaity would have
come to a speedy and definite conclusion.
NOBODY win repose, 1t must be feared. the
same condolences ia The Hague tribunal
The Westminster Gazette doesn't blame
President Roosevelt for declining to ar
bitiat himself. thus formally recognizing
the special responsibility Of the United
states II adds:
sat the same time we are sorry that
the president should decline to take the
step, which seems to Us, TO be the logical
anu legitimate outcome Of the Monroe
doetrire. - III
..NVhffe We ON our Fstft, ought to recoe-
nize the position Of the United States by
bringing her into any dispute with South
American state, not after, but before we
have taken action. on the other hand, We
could have wished tnaI PRESIDENT hooSe-
welt would have undertaken the response
biiity, which acceptance of the part Of
arbitrator would undoubtedly have inn
posed upon himself.
The Pail Mall Gazette wishes well of the
Hague tribunal. but would have preferred
to have had Mr.. Roosevelt himself under
taken the task. 1t says:
Regret that he felt an insuperable diff
fidence i'm the matter will not diminish
confidence in the tribunal which he him
self has resignated as a fit. and proper
one for the occasion.
1T is a. great thing after all to find the
peoples OF two hemispheres banded to-
gether i'm the mission Of peace
and good will"
rhe Globe says:
There is one point Of extreme import
ance which has been far too much over
looked. Not only I'm the present instance,
but whenever England and the United
States resort to arbitration, the Wash
ington government almost invariably APP
pears to the outside world as playing more
or less of a dictatorial part, while Great
Britain has the look of being ready to ac-
cept any terms for the sake of peace. The
result is that more and more minds in
Canada fall into the habit of regarding
the supremacy of the neighboring repub-
lie as inevitable"