The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-12-21
ROOSEVELT WILL DECLINE.
He Will Again Suggest The Hague
Tribunal.

washington, Dec. 20.-President Ro0Se-
welt has proposed to the allied powers
that the Venezuelan dispute be submitted
TO the arbitration of The Hague tribunal.
The powers have replied with counter
reply that President Roosevelt himself
arbitrate the issues.
If an agreement Is reached on Castro
proposal for arbitration. the procedure
would be for Mr.. Bowen, representing
Venezuela as a plenipotentiary to sign
with the representatives of the allies a
protocol stating that the case Is to be
submitted to arbitration; that Venesuela
admits the right of diplomatic interven-
ton in behalf of q claimant a principle
she has always resisted in formal treaty
which she pledges herself to sign. This
treaty will provide in the greatest detail
for the security Of foreign interests
against vexatious and extortionate inter
ference on the part of the Venezuelan
Government hereafter and will insure the
administration of exact justice In the
settlement of claims and especially will
it erlieye foreign residents of Venezuela
from forced loans and prosecutions in
times of revolutions.
Powers Wait on President.
The status of the arbitration negOtia
lions 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 their pro-
posals that he undertake to arbitrate the
Venezuela dificulty.
The Presidents answer can only be
guessed at for the officials decline to ex-
press any opinion of their own. How
ever, 1t Is believed to be a safe prediction
that he will renew his suggestion that the
case be submitted to The Hague tribunal.
adding to the argument he has already
produced the fact that the United States
having claims of its own against Vene-
zuela to the amount Of about 800, 900 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 argument that
President Castro would feel lightly bound
by any decision by that Tribunal, but
would be certain to heed Judgment rem
dersd by the President.
It is said at the State Department tina
no matter how these two propositions ar,
disposed of. there will be no backward
step and that an agreement of some kind
which will bring about peaceable set
tImsnt of the Venezuelan troubles will
result from the present negotiations. Of
course if the President should accept the
charge which he would do only as last
resort, 1t 10 understood that the actual
burdensome work of arbitrating the
claims would not be undertaken by him
personally, but probably would be, as ii
customary, in such cases. confident tt
one OF the thoroughly efficient and trained
assistant secretaries Of the department
Another German Denial.
Al the German Embassy tonight denia
emphatic and authoritative was given tc
the various reports in circulation thai
Germany is anxious TO acquire Margarita
Island and will work to this end in an;
settlement that may be agreed upon. Ger
many. it was said. has never for an in
etant had designs on Margarita island
or any other Venezuelan territory Hei
cffort throughout has been merely Il
ohtain satisfaction for the claims ending
oSaInst the Caracas Government and fol
IndIgnlties committed against German
shortly after the receipt Of the motto
NJ hiockade from the United States En-
nassy al London message was receives
Srom Consul Smith a. Port OF Spain
Trinidad as follows;
venezuela olockaded."
whIs yss understood to mean that ta'