Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-12-25
WILLING to
ARBiTRAIE
BUT THERE ARE MANY PRELIM-
MARY MATTERS TO BE ADJ
JusTED.
RESPONSE GIVEN BY THf POWERS
SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN THE
WAY OF ABSOLUTE Ac-
cEPTANcE.
GERMANY WANTS AN APOLOGY
kAIsER's GOVERNMENT PRE-.
sENTs THE WORST STUN.
BLING BLOCK.
RESPONSE GIVEN BY The POWERS
GERMANY WANTS AN APOLOGY

-----
London, Dec 22.-The basis for ar
bitration with Venezuela and a set
Element of the present dispute will be
a guarantee by j.. q w. Seligman of
the English and German claims TO the
extent of G5, 400, 900. 1t is expected
that the matter will be arranged with.
In a few days. The Washington gov
eminent, which has declined to be in
any respect a party to the financial
transactions, has agreed to use its
good Offices in support of Mr.. Selig-
man in the execution of the terms Of
his agreement with Venezuela.
Washington, Dec. %. - Secretary
Hay has received partial responses
from the governments of Great Brit
ain, Germany and Italy respecting the
proposal to arbitrate the Venezuelan
difficulties.
Great Britain is favorable to arbi-
tration with proper safeguards; Ger
many accepts arbitration in principle,
but finds a multitude OF small adjust
ments to be made before entering into
the agreement; Italy, as the junior
partner of the allies, declares that she
is favorable to arbitration. but will be
bound probably by the action OF the
senior partners.
To secure these results the Ameri-
can embassies at London, Berlin and
Rome have been working energetical.
ly to carry out the Instructions of
Secretary Hay to ascertain how the
proposal would be received. AS far
as England Is concerned. the
Safeguards Referred To
are believed to relate to the question
of guarantee, which is full Of difficult
ties. In this connection some consid-
GRAFTON is again being given to the
feasibility OF the assumption of re-
~sponsibility for any award assessed
against Venezuela by responsible pri-
yate agencies, but the United States
government is determined not to allow
itself to be drawn into the position OF
a guarantor In this case, for the prece-
dent once established, might require
the united states to become the flnan-
ciai hacker of all South and Central
America. However, if private concern
a be induced TO enter the field, the
United States government will do
what 1t can to reduce their risks.
Secretary Hay, Sir Michael Herbert,
the British ambassador, and Senator
Depew were in conference yesterday
and 1t is suspected that this
Phase Of the Case
as touched upon, although no con
hrmation can be had at this time.
The German position presents the
great difficulties, for not only does II
involve a demand for apologies, which
hre extremely repugnant / o Venezuela,
but also presents so many points re-
quiring adjustment that ii is evident
that many days or, perhaps, weeks,
must elapse before the adjustment can
be effected and the case prepared for
arbitration. And the danger of delay
in the fact of a blockade which seri-
ously cripples neutral commerce and
invites hostile collisions with the Ven
ezuelans cannot be oyer-estimated.
The efforts. of the United States,
therefore, must be directed toward
fastening Germany's action on the
arbitration proposal.
Germany Is Willing.
Berlin, Dec. 22.-The answer OF Ger
many to the arbitration in behalf Of
Venezuela, received through the
United States government, is its ac-
ceptance.
The delivery OF this reply to the
United States for transmission to Min
lister Bowen is delayed for a day or
two for tactical reasons, probably
through the expectation that another
solution may be found, possibly by
President Castro yielding. -Four days
ago the idea of the German govern
ment was in favor of rejecting arbi-
4poffNp r. a - n fhatA &c ,,.Inr.fANH 49,
to have been the temper of the British
foreign Office. While II is impossible
to trace the steps that led to a reversal
of this view, it appears that the state
of public opinion in the United States,
sc far a. Germany is concerned, pro-
duced a revision of the first idea.
The officials here maintain absolute
silence regarding the character of the
answer The foreign Office has no in
formation to the effect that President
castro has bestowed on Minister Bow
en- full power to represent Ven
ezuela in the settlement OF the exist
ing difficulties, but such a step to-
ward a solution would be received
with pleasure.
Safeguards. Desired.
London, Dec. 2zs-~Great Britain has
bSnt " reply IA ZIG Onileu states IN
regard to the suggestion that the Ven
ezuelan question should be submitted
to arbitration.
The tenor OF the reply. It is expected
here. win tend to bring about some
arrangement for a satisfactory solu-
ton. White thoroughly safeguarding
tho interests OF the powers concerned.
The ncte "a Reuters Telegraph
company hnaouncing that Great Brit
ain had sent a reply TO the United
States, says:
THE statements issuing FROM Car
acas 70 the effect that President Cas-
tro has empowered MiniSter Bowen to
act as the representative Of Venezuela.
are regarded IN London as open to
questions Any such action on the part