Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-12-27
STATUS OF VENEZUELA CASES
THE POWERS. WANT PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT TO AR8ITRATE
He SUGGESTED that the Case Be Sub
mitted to the Hague Tribunal AS
the United States Also Has Claims
Against VenezueIa-Peaceful Set
Element Will Be the Outcome.

Washington, Dec. 22.-The status
of the Venezuelan arbitration negoti-
atoms at the close of the official day,
as disclosed at the state department,
was that the powers were waiting for
an answer from the president to the
proposal that he himself undertake to
arbityate the difficulty. The presi-
dents answer can only be guessed at,
for the officials decline to express any
opinion of their own. However, 1t
is believed to be safe prediction
that he will renew his suggestion
that the case be submitted to The
Hague tribunal. adding to the argu-
ment he has already produced the
fact that the United States. having
a claim against Venezuela to the
amount of about 100000, is a party
in interest, and it would be unfair to
put the president in the position of
having to arbitrate his own claim.
For their part, the powers bring
against The Hague proposition the ar
gument that President Castro would
feel lightly bound by any decision by
to heed judgment rendered by Pres
ident Roosevelt.
1t is said at the state department,
that, no matter how these two propo-
sitions are disposed of, there will be
no backward step and that an agree
ment of some kind which will bring
about q peaceable settlement of the
Venezuelan troubles will result from
the present negotiations. OF course,
if President Roosevelt should accept
the charge, which he would only do
as a last resort, it is understood that
the actual burdens of arbitrating the
claims would not be undertaken by
him personally, but probably would
be, as is customary in such cases,
confded to one of the efficient and
trained secretaries of the department.
Official Notice of Blockade.
London.-The official proclamation
has been gazetted. The text of the
proclamation is as follows:
Foreign Otfice.-It is hereby mott
fed that as the United States Of
Venezuela have failed to comply with
the demands of his maejesty's gov
eminent, blockade by his majesty's
naval forces of the ports of La Quay
ra, Carenero, Guanta and Carupano
and the mouths of the Orinoco is de-
clared and such blockade will be eff
fectively maintained from and after
the 10th of December subject to the
allowance of the following days of
grace:
For vessels sailing before the
date Of this notification from West
Indian ports and ports on the east
coast of the continent of America, 10
days for steamers and 90 days for
sailing vessels; from all other ports
20 days for steamers and 40 days for
sailing vessels.
For vessels lying in the ports now
declared to be blockaded, Is days.
Vessels which attempt the block
ade will render themselves liable to
all measures authorized by the law Of
nations and by the respective treat
les between his majesty and the diff
ferent neutral powers"
The foreign Office says the blockade
of the Venezuelan coast will not be
relaxed until the powers agree on
method for the arbitration of their
respective cases and Venezuela
shows a disposition to act sincerely.
Stress is laid on the difficulty in
view of the diversity of the claims in
deciding on method of presentation
and on the perplexity of the negotia.
tions which will be involved before q
settlement is in sight. 1t is not def.
cases can be embodied in one docu-
ment, should the projected arbitra,
ton take definite shape.
Notices at Berlin.
Berlin.-The German government
has posted notices of the blockade
OF Venezuela similar to those issued
by Great Britain.
Roosevelt Refuses.
shington.-President Roosevelt
has not accepted the position of arbi.
traitor Of the Venezuelan controversy
In fact, when the official day closed he
had not received formally or officially
request from the European powers
that he act as arbitrator of the dispute.
These statements are made on the
highest authority.