Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-12-25
ARBITRATION
IS ACCEPTED
Replies OF Allies to Castro's
Proposition Are Received
in Washington.
THEY ALL PUT IN BUTTS"
Conditions and Reservations Must BE
Eliminated Before Anything Definite
Done Some Questions Cannot Properly
BE Arbitrated.

Washington, Dec. 20.-The official
day closed without further develop.
ments here respecting the Venezuelan
complications. The status of the arbi.
tration proposition, on which everyone
waits. was that with willingness to
| accept such a solution in principle, no
one of the allies was ready to submit
unreservedly to arbitration; in each
case there were reservations or con-
ditions insisted upon. Respecting the
method of arbitration, IL 1t should
come to that form of adjustment, II is
noted that the feeling is growing that
The Hague tribunal should undertake
the case.
Mr. Bowen, 1t is reported, wishes to
come to Washington in order person.
ally to effect an adjustment with the
resident ambassadors of the allies, but
while the state department makes no
statement upon the point 1t Is believed
that it does not regard this plan with
favor. 1t is pointed out here in con-
nection with the project to refer the
matter to The Hague tribunal that in
some phases the dispute will not ad.
NIT of arbitration. Such Is the case,
for instance, where attacks on British
and German subjects and the German
legation at Caracas, and arrests OF
consular officers, have made the Vene
Zuelan offense equivalent to attacks on
the national honor of the allies, and
as such to be atoned for only by an
ample apology. The Hague tribunal
could not arbitrate such issues, but 1t
is pointed out at the state department
that the claims are divisible, and that
IL Presiden Castro chooses to render
the necessary apologies the remain
ing questions can properly go to The
Hague. 1t is believed that the United
States government inclines to the
view that there is a disposition to in
sist needlessly on guarantees for the
payment by Venezuela of any judg-
ment that might be rendered against
her by arbitration. II believes that
the force of enlightened public opinion
would absolutely insure settlement
of any judgment rendered by the
august tribunal, and that President
Castro would not be sustained by a
single american country in default
ing.
Secretary Hay has received partial
responses from the governments of
Great Britain. Germany and Italy re.
specting the proposal to arbitrate the
Venezuelan difficulties. Great Britain
is favorable to arbitration with proper
safeguards; Germany accepts arbitra-
ton in principle. but finds a multitude
of small adjustments to be made be
fore entering into the agreements;
Italy. as the junior party of the allies.
declares that she is favorable to arbi-
tration, but will be bound probably by
the action Of the senior partners.
To secure these results the Amer
lean embassies at London, Berlin and
Rome have been working energetical.
ly to carry out the Instructions of Sec.
rotary Hay to ascertain how the pro
posal would be received. As far as
| England is concerned, the safeguards
referred to are believed to relate tc
the question Of guarantee, which is
! full of difficulties.