New-York tribune., 1902-12-23
THE ARRLrRATLON PROPOSAL

The reported desire of some of the European
powers that the President of the United States
shall act as arbitrator between them and NeneZ-
uela has now been embodied in formal invita-
tion or request to that effect. 1t is said that
this has been done at the initiative of Germany
rather than of Great Britain. but the over
ture is made by the two powers together it is
TO be regarded as their joint act. As such it is
doubtless intended as a friendly and cOmpli-
mentary thing. and it is to be received with full
credit such. 1t is gratifying to be thus re-
assured that both parties to the dispute-for
Venezuela is reported to he equally desirous of
the Presidents arbitration-hold Mr.. Roosevelt,
and the government and nation of which he is
the executive head, in such esteem that they
are willing to confide their interests to him. 1t
is easy to understand that his arbitration seems
TO them eminently desirable. Venezuela could
look for no more benevolently disposed umpire
than the successor of Monroe and the chief up
holder of the Monroe Doctrine. while Great
Britain and Germany would find in his umpire
ship assurance of intelligent and equitable con-
sideration and would hope that ii would be
tantamount TO a United States guarantee of the
fulfilment Of the award. The fact that upon
the strength of an unauthorized rumOr that the
President was TO be the arbitrator the price of
Venezuelan securities was materially raised in
London shows how much such arbitration
would be welcomed by those who have claims
against our Southern neighbor.
1t is difficult, however, TO refrain from won
dering if our European friends in offering this
invitation to the President have taken into con-
sideration the embarrassment from the Amer-
can point of view. We may pass by the personal
feature of the case that the President-and, in
deed, the chief of state of any important na-
iS cir .;a
the duties of his own Office without assuming
other laborious tasks of a foreign and unwonted
nature. A more general and decidedly peril
nent objection lies in the fact that the United
States itself has, or some Of its citizens have,
claims against Venezuela similar to those which
are now being pressed by the European powers
1t would certainly be anomaly for an actual
or potential claimant to be an arblter of similar
claims Could the President now act as judge
upon the claims of Great Britain and Germany
and a little later appear with good grace as the
prosecutor of like claims on the part of the
United States?
1t must be remembered too that ONLY a little
while ago the United States Joined with these
same European powers in organizing and estab-
fishing an international tribunal Of arbitration
which was intended to take the place of the
personal umpire and TO which precisely such
couFONersleS as the present were TO be re-
ferred. The United States was entirely in ear
nest in the establishment of that tribunal 1t
regarded and now regards it in good faith as
body to which international disputes are to be
committed for judicial and equita BILE settlement
1t proved its good faith by promptly submitting
TO that court its own claims against Mexico
Should it now be asked to discredit the tribunal
of which it was one of the chief creators and
TO do so in an important case occurring If we
may so express it, almost in its own baiwick?
There are other obvious points of the case
which need not be dwelt upon; like the consid-
Grafton that an arbitrator's verdict however 10y
ally 1t may be accepted and fulfilled is seldom
entirely pleasing to both Sides but is in danger
Of arousing dissatisfaction and resentment
Great Britain and Germany doubtless have no
thought and no wish of bringing upon the
United States through its President any such i'll
feeling from any quarter. If arbitration by the
President were the only possible or conceivable
way of restoring and maintaining peace it
might be well for the powers to urge him TO
undertake the task. But it is not the only way.
The good intent and the compliment expressed
and conveyed in yesterdays invitation to the
President will be esteemed at their full value |
But still more welcome would it be for the Eu-
ropean powers to seek arbitration of the tribunal
they have themselves SO lately united in setting
up for that very purpose.