Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-27
a HAPPY DECISION.


The Venezuelan trouble will be sub
r1litted to the Hague tribunal for arbi-
nation Such is the news received from
Washington yesterday afternoon. Fresi-
dent Roosevelts desire. that the case
should 20 TO that court has prevailed,
all the parties In interest, we are told,
being agreeable. This understanding is
most happy one, and relieves the ad-
nainIstraticn from d very embarrassing
position In which II Vas placed
by the pressure the European al
lies had brought 10 bear upon
the President to induce him to act
es arbitrator. AS is very obvious had the
allies continued to be insistent, il would
have been exceedingly difficult for Mr.
Roosevelt TO decline There seemed no
way, in truth in which he could have de-
clined with grace. The proposition was
IN this government, and a compliment to
the country at large. That We think is
3ndisputabie, notwithstanding the over
suspicious. and the jingoes, who saw, or
professed TO see. an Interior motive on
NE part of Germany in taking the illitia-
tive in making the proposition But the
gutv would have been an exceedingly del
lcate one. and would have involved IN
pleasant, not to say grave, possibilities.
AS to the financial phase OF the issue.
ne bear somewhat the same relations
10 Venezuela that the allies bear TO her
.-bi+ b1-r r,-nc
place US in the attitude of a judge ruling
in his own cause. More than that ii
would carry the danger OF setting q pre-
cedent touching proceedings for the sat
lsfaction OF claims we now have, or may
hereafter have against foreign nations
other than South and Central american.
Turkey owes US q BILL and the prospect
Of our being called upon to collect one
from Korea is said TO be looming up.
Again, Mr. Rooseyelt's acceptance
s7ould have discrei!ted the Hague trbu-
nal. which We recently recognized in the
most practical manner by submitting to
its arbitration the Plus fund dispute,
and there was the possibility of the Ven
nzuelans constituting his agreement to ar
nitrate into Il reconciliation OF our under
standing with the allies that ne had no
Sympathy with Castro as 10 the matter
IN controversy. Last, but not least, it is
rlear that in the event of decision by
Mr Roosevelt leaning towards Venezuela,
30 matter how much justice might de-
nland II, the effect Of the lesson that
has been taught all spanisf-America
would have been greatly lessened
The dispatches announcing the deter
nination to give the controversy over
20 the Hague tribunal also state that
there is general understanding that
the Monroe doctrine is not TO enter into
The question OF arbitration. The corlten-
ton that 1t might be dragg into the
issue, II the case went 10 the Hague
court. has been dwelt upon at considerable
sength by those Of this country who "a
vored Mr.. Rooserelt's acceptance of the
Office Of arbitrator, and this has caused
ZONE little public apprehension in antici-
patton OF the Hague courts being cal]eu
upon to adjust the matter But there is
40 real ground for fear on that score.
There IS no reason TO doubt the sincerity
Of Great Britain and Germany in declar-
Ing that they had no purpose Of infrinc-
ing the Monroe doctrine. That cues
ton was settled in the negotiations be.
tween the Lniteu States and the allies
which preceded the latters coercive
demonstration. 1t would be a gross breach
OF faith TO attempt TO bring il before
the Hague arbitrators. In addition TO this.
however, such an attempt is barred bv
stipulation the American delegates 10
tbs Peace conference at the Hague at
tache6 TO our acceptance OF article q OF
the treaty which created the permanent
court OF arbitration. That stipulation
reads:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as TO require the
ohitea States OF America TO depart from
its traditional policy of not intrudjnc
upon. interfering with. or entangling IL |
self In the present questions or internal
administration Of any foreign State: nor
sha'. anything contained IN said conren-
ton DC so construed to require the re-
ilnGuishment by tho United States of |
america of its traditional attitude To- /
ward purely American questions
70 II follows that the court can only
zeal with the specific issue thai broueb,
noout the embroglio and as we see II the |
phi,ed states have nothing to lose and
everything 70 gain by the cases going |
70 the international tribunal. The con-
nshssaa which has besn reached nv all
s s'as'ass n interest 1. one on which
s eoaa'sy ss to be congratulated. II
eses sae sarssnist-st!es es- the -neees.I
...s Almost Of accepting q grave re.pon.t-
guy. sao safeguards against possible