Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-26
THE VENEZUELAN AFFAIR.

1t was stated at the State Department
Yesterday that the Presidential reached
no decision in regard to the invitation
of the powers that heEarbitrate the vene-
zuelan matter. 1t is possible that this
decision will not be forthcoming for
several days. Correspondence is being
exchanged daily between the State De-
partment and the foreign Offices with
reference to the invitation. Secretary
Hay was at the White House early yes
terday and held brief conference with
the President on the Venezuelan situa-
| ton.
The Local Anzeiger, of Berlin, pub
lished yesterday the following statement,
which was evidently inspired by the
Foreign Office: ''The German govern
ment has excluded from the scope OF
arbitration of the Venezuelan difficulty
claim of 100000 bolivars, which
must be paid Immediately in cash be-
fore arbitration is begun" The paper
adds that it is understood in Berlin that
President Rooseyelts undertaking to
arbitrate involves an indirect guarantee
for the payment of the sum to be
awarded. Confidence has grown in gov
eminent circles during the past "A hours
that President Roosevelt will accept the
task Of arbitrator.
A dispatch from Paris says that Baron
d. Estourneles de Constant has written
to Foreign Minister Delcasse notifying
him that the writer will interpellate the
government on the reassembling of the
Chamber concerning the disregard Of
article 81 of The Hague Convention,
shown by the allied powers in coercing
Venezuela. In his letter Baron d.
Estournelles strongly supports the con-
tention of the United States that the
Venezuelan trouble should be referred
the The Hague court After pointing
out that the presentisjust the contingency
contemplated by article q, the writer
says:
'The conflict exists between Vene-
zuela and several OF the signatories to
The Hague convention, and the formal
obligation that France and the % other
powers signed is not only ignored, but
we observe systematic Introduction Of
The Hague court of arbitration by the
European governments. An explana-
ton has became necessary. 1t cannot
be objected by the allied powers that
Venezuela took no part in the confer
ence; and as she is asking for. arbitra-
ton an occasion exists for reminding the
powers of the obligation they signed and
ratified. Nor can the reply be made
that states, unlike individuals, are free
not to observe their engagements, and
that moral obligations exist only for
individuals or for the weak, as this
point of view is precisely contrary to
the principle that The Hague Confer
ence sought to secure"
President Castro has telegraphed
from La Victoria his acceptance of the
proposal to submit all pending differ.
ences to the arbitration of The Hague
tribunal subject to certain conditions,
which include cessation of the blockade
and the return to Venezuela of the fleet
seized by the allied powers. President
Castro's acceptance has been transmit
ted to the Washington government,
from which the proposal emanated.
A dispatch from Rome says that the
only conditions which Italy has at
tached to her acceptance of arbitration
of the Venezuelan difficulties are that
all points in the dispute shall be sub
mitted to the arbitrator, so that no
questions shall be lelt undecided; and
that Italian claims must be considered on
an equality with those of the other
powers.