The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-23

VI ASHINGTON. Dec. 22.-President
W Roosevelt has not accepted the
position of arbitrator of the Ven
eZueian controversy. In fact, when the
official day closed he had not received
formally or officially a request from
the European powers that he act as ar
bitrator of the disputes. These state
ments al- made on the highest author
Ity. In an informal manner the presi-
dent has been notified that the Euro
pean powers intimately concerned in
the present South American difficulty
desire that he should undertake the re-
spOnsibility of acting arbitrator of
the points at issue between them and
Venezuela. Thus far they merely have
been taking ssoundings" with a view.
proba bly,, of ascertaining how he would
receive q formal prOffer to act as ar
bitratOT The president. as soon as he
resolved the first intimatiOn that ne
was desired to be arbitrator of the
Venezuela controversy, expressed en-
phatically his judgment that the mat
tiers to be arbitrated should be referred
20 The Hague tribunal. His views of
the suggestions made have been con-
Veyed TO the European powers together
with strong. Presentation OF his rea-
sons for the view he holds. No re-
Spouse Of a formal nature 70 these rep
reservations has been received.
Purpose of The Hague Tribunal.
The president and Secretary 4ay had
a long conference today after the for
mer's return from his Virginia trip.
They carefully went over the situation
as il had developed since Saturday, but
it is understood that nothing has arisen
during the past fOrty-eight hours 10
Warrant the president in changing his
,e6pinion as to the undesirability of his
acceptance of the position of arbi-
traitor So far as can be learned, no
specific reasons have been advanced
by the European powers for Directing
TO a reference of the Venezuelan ques-
tons to the arbitration of The Hague
tribunal. tt is held by the administra-
ton that the tribunal at The Hague
was constituted to aTbitrate just such
controversies as that which has arisen
between Venezuela and the powers.
Yand that it would be desirable from
every view point that the present dis
pute should go TO that tribunal for adj
judicatiOn. How strong are the Objec-
lions which the allied powers have TO a
reference of the Venezuelan difficulty
TO The Hague tribunal is not known to
the administration at this time Even
the nature of the objections, if there be
any, is not known. The negotiations
looking 10 the selection of an arbitra-
tor have not progressed sufficiently yet
TO develop such objections as the pow
ers may have.
Will Probably Accept.
The acceptance By the powers of the
principle of arbitration as applied to
the Venezuelan question is a matter OF
great qualification TO the president and
his cabinet. That all the powers have
intimated, too, that they would prefer
the president should arbitrate the pres
ent dispute is taken as a notable COM
pliment 10 the president personally and
10 his administration. 1t is the hope
of both the president and his advisers
however. that while there is precedent
for his acceptance of the post of arbi-
traitor. the powers will consent to q
reference to the controversial matters
in the. Venezuelan question to the trib-
unai at The Hague.
While IL is recognized by the presi-
f6ent's closest advisers and by the pres
ident himself that some unpleasant
] possibilities might attend his perform
ance of the duties of arbitrator of the
pending Venezuelan difficulty, his
friends assert that he win shirk no re-
sponsibility that he may deem il his
duty TO undertake, but viii accept il
the powers should insist on it. though
he is very reluctant to do so