Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-29
AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES
Washington, Venezuela and Powers
Debating Arbitration Question.
THE TERMS OF AGREEMENT
Will Dc Speedily Adjusted - Allies
Will Probably Agree to Rad
Blockade Pending q Set
tfemoAt Of Case.

| III progress an active exchange Of
notes between the allied powers, Vene-
suela and the United States respecting
the method of sumbitting to arbitration
the issues which have arisen between
Venezuela and the allies.
Questions are being put. and answers
are Forthcoming. but it is said that the
negotiations are In such shape that 1t
would be extremely intldicious and In
discreet to make each phase public.
1t Is explained ut the state depart
Ment Chat the part Of the United States
government is that Of good friend" to
all parties: that 1t Is not undertaking
to draw up protocols or impose limita
ttons upon the parties. but Is combining
lts offices to getting them together and
keeping them SO.
In this view 1t will not be necessary
for our government to prescribe how
the Monroe doctrine shall or shall not
figure In the protocols. 1t will Judge
for itself by results how our interests
are affected and will not indulge in
premature or uncalled for protests.
The Terms of Agreement.
As for the terms of the arbitration
agreement it Is stated that they are In
a fair way to be speedily adjusted, but
nothing can be said of the details. 1t is
presumed that the allies viii agree to
terminate the blockade, though no stip-
ulation has yet been entered into on
that point Nothing has been heard re-
Gently Of the part to be taken by Unit
ed States Minister Bowen In the final
settlement, and it begins to appear that
after all Venezuela probably will be
represented by one Of her own people.
The weight Of official opinion here is
that several days at least must elapse
before anything in the nature of pre-
liminary protocol can be made ready
for signature. German insistence upon
prepayment of 10 per cent Of her full
claims before submitting her case to
arbitration and perhaps the presidents
resistance to meeting what the allies
regard as the obligations Of honor are
believed to be now the sticking points.
But 1t Is hoped that these can be
passed within the next few days. and
it Is further hoped that some arrange
ment will be made in the preliminary
protocol for the raising of the blockade.
though it Is intimated that the allied
ships will be kept ready to renew 1t In
case of any default on the part of Ven.
ezuela in her obligations
Washington having been the pivot
about which all the negotiations have
turned up to this point, it Is surmised
that it may also be the scene Of the
final act In the shape Of the signature
Of the preliminary protocol either by
the resident representatives here Of the
powers interested OF by special agents
sent to this neutral ground for the pur-
pose.
An Erroneous Idea
An erroneous idea has obtained cir
culati0n in some quarters as to the
function of the president and Secretary
Hay in this matter, and they have been
as endeavoring to personal
ly conduct the negotiations as drawing
up protocols and generally as taking
the leading part in all that is going on.
1t is pointed out at the state depart
ment that while ordinarily a misunder-
standing on this point would be trifiing
it happens in the present case that re-
ports Of such activity on the part of the
United States officials after the presi-
dent had expressly declined to assume
the duties Of arbitrator would surely
be Ill received in Europe and might
perhaps lead to some backward steps
that would be a matter of regret to this
government, which earnestly desires to
have the parties reach an honorable
settlement of their differences.
4 dispatch from Paris says that
Baron d Estournelles de Constant, the
French deputy who was one of the
delegates of France to the Internal ton
al peace conference and who is men,
Der Of The Hague arbitration tribunal,
has written strong congratulatory
letter to President Roosevelt on the
submission of the Venezuelan arbitra-
ton to The Hague court.
The letter expresses the view widely
prevailing in official and diplomatic
circles here that the American course
not only adjusts the immediate issue.
but also saves The Hague tribunal
from practical extinction. The baron
says in part:
"A great number Of Frenchmen and
other Europeans are happy to Join with
me in expressing to you their graft
tude."
Hanled Ashore In Dreeches Buoy.
Little Beach, N. j., Dec. 20.--The
three masted schooner Harry Prescott,
from Rrunsmink Ca fne Nau Yosk