Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
Would Be Put in an Awk-
ward Position.
FAVORS HAGUE COURT
WOULD PROBABLY YIELD TO
AVERT HOSTILITIES.
Meanwhile the Punitive Measures
Adopted by the Powers in Regard
to Venezuela Will Go On.

President Roosevelt has proposed to the
allied powers that the Venezuelan disputes
be submitted to The Hague tribunal for
arbitration. The powers have replied with
a acounter-proposition, suggesting that Pres
ident Roosevelt act as arbitrator.
These We're the developments overnight
in the Venezuelan matter, and they seem
to Justify the prediction heretofore made in
The Star that the critical point had been
passed, a certain index being found in the
active renewal of diplomatic exchanges.
President Roosevelt does not wish to act
as arbitrator in this matter, for as such
he would be at once judge, jury and con-
stable. and would be under the moral OBJ
legation to execute his own judgment.
In The Hague tribunal there is at hand
a completely equipped and operative ma
chine, which, better than any other mech
anism, could treat matter OF the impor-
tance of the Venezuelan dispute. That is
the Presidents belief, and he feels that
such a reference would vastly strengthen
the cause Of arbitration, which the United
States of all nations is most disposed to
foster.
Would Yield to Avert War.
STILL rather than see the present dispute
proceed to extremes it is probable that
duties of arbitrator, fun as they are O.:
dangers and difficulties. 1t Is fully realized
that any decision rendered by him in that
capacity would be sure to bring him the
enmity Of one or the other of the parties
to the controversy, and that fact was
pointed out TO the President early in the
week by leading senator who had been
called into consultation.
Nevertheless, to prevent bloodshed and the
destruction of property and the interference
with great commercial interests that would
have resulted. it is believed that the Presi-
dent would assume the charge providing
his own view cannot prevail.
Punitive Measures to Go On.
An important fact developed today is that
the punitive measures about to be instituted
and in fact now in force in some degree
will not be suspended by the allies until a
definite agreement is reached as to arbitra-
tion. 1t is true that the allies have ac-
cepted the principle of arbitration, but they
have not indicated that fact in writing and
until they have Joined in an agreement re-
duced to due form, the program already
outlined and now in process of execution
will go forward even to the extent of a full
blockade of the Venezuelan ports named in
the proclamation.
Venezuela Notified.
Venezuela has also been told, through
Minister Bowen, that the President would
welcome reference of the dispute to The
Hague tribunal. She has not replied d.
rectly, but il is not doubted that the reply
would be favorable if the other parties
consented to such reference.
If an agreement is reached on arbitration
the procedure would be for Mr.. Bowen
representing Venezuela a penipoten-
tiary, to sign with the representatives of
the allies a protocol stating that the case
is to be submitted to arbitration; that Ven
ezuela admits the right of diplomatic in
tervention in behalf of claimant, a prin-
cipal she has always resisted, and that
the details of the arbitration shall be ar
ranged in formal treaty, which she
pledges herself to sign. This treaty will
provide in the greatest detail for the Sc
curity of foreign interests against vexa-
tous and eXtortionate interference on the
part of the Venezuelan government here
after and will insure the administration of
exact justice in the settlement of claims,
and especially will it relieve foreign resi-
dents Of Venezuela from forced loans and
persecution in times of revolutions