Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-19
VENEZUELA ARBITRATION.

The Oner or President tdst1o 10 SVt-
tie with the allied powers In some
peaceful manner. should be accepted as
an easy way out Of difficulty. They
have assembled to force the payment
Of certain claims. but It Is not Gear
how the collection is to be made by the
means so far employed. The allies may
sink the ships OF Venezuela and dis
mantle her forts, but that does not
bring them any cash.
They may continue their blockade
and seize custom houses. but 1t IS by no
means certain that that would prove
success II might cripple the commerce
Of the country without doing the allies
any good. They might plan an expedl-
ton into the interior, but in all prob
ability they would meet with disaster.
unless they landed a force large enough
TO cope with the entire Venezuelan ar
my, which is at last equal in numbers
TO the Boer army; and then the prob
ability OF Interference by the United
States would be check on their move
ments. The allies may take delight IN
going as near the Monroe doctrine as
possible without actually stepping on
ii, but they VIII not at this time risk a
war that might involve two continents.
The time Ia hardly ripe for that
What, then, can the allies do, but
accept the proposition for arbitration?
They may object to Mr.. Bowen as the
arbitrator, because he is an American.
The Hague convention provides for alb
solutely impartial trials OF international
cases. and this could best be referred
to that tribunal.
The contention that some guarantee
be given for the carrying out OF the
award that shall be given, II the trou-
bic is submitted to arbitration, Is rea-
sonable, And II a strong government
can be established there, such guaran-
tee would not involve much of risk.
tnder stable. peaceful conditions, the
country Is believed to be abundantly
abeto meet all its obligations. In natur-
al resources, Venezuela is regarded as
one OF the riches OF the South American
republics. In its forests are the sage
and the cocoa palm, mahogany satin
wood, rosewood, black and white eb-
ony, the caoutchous, or india rubber
tree, and the cinchona, which yields
Peruvian bark, the source Of qulnlne.
Sugar cane, indigo. coffee and cotton
are cultivated with great success also
tobacco Cattle raising Is one Of the
important sources of wealth, The min
eral riches include gold. copper, iron,
coal, sulphur. asphalt, lead, and tin.
But all these resources are only Inn
perfectly developed.
The country has but too often been
the scene Of civil wars. In 1911 It com.
menced It's rebellion against Spain, and
obtained official recognition OF its In
dependence in 1876, Prior to this the
Venezleuans had established a govern
ment Of their own and II Is claimed
that FOR years the country was the most
orderly Of the South American states.
In 1915 there began a series Of revolu.
tons. which continued, with short Ia.
tervals tn the end OF 1870. In that
year Don Cuzman Blanco was declared
provisional president Three years lat
er he was duly elected president By
his energy order was restored, and
Venezuela was placed upon the high
road Of prosperity.
In 1855 there was another revolution
followed BY steady government. until
Castro appeared on the scene. lie de-
posed Ahdrade In 1899, and instituted
a reign Of terror. In February. this
year. he was elected. to the presidency
for term Of six years. He has nu-
merous enemies. The Indications are.
however that the various factions win
unite against the common enemies. In
that case. there may be prospect of
peace and prosperity for the country
It's obligations can then be discharged.