The Washington times., 1902-12-18
Passes Resolution Of Inquiry
Asking fo1 Information Not
Incompatible wifR The Pub
lie Interests.
Mr.. Shafroh Makes Lengthy
argument Before Commit
fee on FoCetgH Affairs IN
FaUor of Arbitration.

sAdLe De ulEecleGs II not neon naAlhle
with the public interests. to inform
the House Of Representatives touch
ing any understanding or agreement
between the governments OF Great
Britain and Germany on the one
hand and the diplomatic officers OF
the United States on the other, or
any assurances by the said govern
ments 70 the diplomatic officers Of
the United States. as 10 the nature,
extent. and purpose Of the joint
demonstration OF said governments
against Venezuela. and particularly
with reference to the occupation OF
the territory OF Venezuela. and to
transmit to the House OF Represent
atives the spondence. IL any.
upon the subject between the diplo-
matte officers Of the United States
and the said governments. or either
OF them"
The venezuelan imbroglio came before
the House today Immediately after the
reading Of the Journal
Mr. HIT, chairman Of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. reported the Mccall
resolution or inquiry. quoted above, and
II was adopted. The De Almond resoIu-
tion was placed upon the table.
The former resolution. Mr.. Hit ex-
planned. in addressing the House. was
approved by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. because in their opinion it was in
better form than the other.
1t included everything in the De Ar
mond resolution except the expression OF
opinion by the Secretary Of state. which
the committee thought the House ought
not 10 ask. The recommendation that an
inquiry be made was the unanimous act
OF the committee; but out Of personal re-
gard for the author. 1Ir. Hit explained.
some OF the members would have pre-
ferred the De Almond resolution.
To Learn All.
air Richardson. the minority leader.
asked q the resolution sbouId not esf
for the correspondence with. .Itaiv ana
other countries as wen as Great Brit
ain and Germany. Mr.. Ffitt replied that
he had been informed the response OF
the department TO the resolution would
include all cor respcndence on the Vene-
zdelsn matter.
The Foreign Affairs Committee also
heard a lengthy argument By 8Ir. Sha-
froth. OF Colorado. in support Of his bill
authorizing the President 70 request
Great Britain and Germany to submit
their claims against Venezuela to arbi-
tration. provided the United States guar
antee the claims Mr.. shafroth said
there could no longer be any doubt. af-
ter Mr.. BalfouT'e words in the English
yesterday. but that a state OF
war existed In Venezuela. Such a con6i-
tion was a continual source OF danger
and a menace TO the peace OF the United
States
The amount Of the claims. he main
tained. we're trivial as coHzpsrT sd win
the loss which might yet accrue in case
a conflict should break out between this
country and the E5iTr551p 1p5a7I powers such
q conflict might occur owing to the
proximity Of the British and German
and American fleets
As matters stood today the Presidents
hands were tied Some authority should
be given him 10 at least bring about a
cessation Of the conflict by arbitration.
even IL the United States would have 10
guarantee the claims.
Mr.. Burleson OF Texas asked Mr.. Sha-
froth under what provision Of the Con-
stitution he believed the United States
could guarantee payment OF the claims
IN answer Mr. Shafroth said he thought
The clause on the general welfare Of the
country would cover IT,
The exact amount OF the claims. Mr..
Shafroth said he had been unable to
estimate, Information being wanting
They were not large. however. and be
believed were fully covered by counter
claims which Venezuela could present
for the destruction OF her war vessels
and the bombarding Of Puerto Cabello.
with its consequent loss Of life. The
European powers had overstepped their
rights when they sank Venezuela's s ships
and fred on her forts.
Position Mucn Different.
As for any precedent that might arise
from the United States guaranteeing tho
claims. Mr. Shafroth said Venezuela's
position was much different from that OF
any OF the other Of the South American
republics. possibly excepting Colombia.
For FIVE years she had been rent by civil
strife, Venezuela was poor. She could
not pay the claims at once, no matter
what action Great Britain and Germany
might take.
Blood cannot be sucked from n tur-
NIP" he declared. ANY mors than
money can be secured from venezuela's
drained treasury"
Mr. shafroth further said the seat OF
the trouble lay entirely too near the
Panama Canal, and complications OF
most serious nature 20 the United States
might develop without a moments warn
Ing.