The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-20
United States of Opinion There Is Too
Much Insistence on Guarantees for
Payment of Claims.
BOWEN NOT TO BE ARBITRATOR
CASE PROBABLY WILL BE SENT TO
THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL.
Washington Administration Not i'm
Favor OF Mr.. Boweu's Proposed Con-
ference with Ambassadors.


WASHINGTON. Dec 19-The Venezuelan
muddle is clearing a little. but the filtering
process promises to be slow. Arbitration
In some form is acceptable to the Euro
pean allies. according to information con-
veyed to the State Department, but Ger
many may impose conditions that will cause
delay. Secretary Hay to-day laid before
the Cabinet meeting the latest phases of
the situation shown by the correspond
ence he has had with our ambassadors and
the Foreign Offices at London, Berlin and
Rome. and also acquainted the members
with the substance of the verbal exchanges
which had taken place with the ambassa-
doris from those capitals in Washington.
After thorough discussion of the ques-
ton the Cabinet gave its unqualified ap-
prevail to everything that had been done
by Secretary Hay and also to his plans
for the future, far as they were out
lined. 1t is gathered that the attitude of
the United States for the present is a
waiting one, in the hope that the three
allies will soon be able to agree upon the
basis upon which they are willing to accept
arbitration. 1t is stated that while the
Venezuelan situation was realized to be
important. the subject did not engross the
no notice of the projected blockade of
Venezuela had been officially served on our
government
The responses received by Secretary Hay
from the governments OF Great Britain,
Germany and Italy, respecting the. pro-
posal to arbitrate the Venezuelan differ
ences, were only partial. Great Britain
Is favorable to arbitration. with proper
= safeguards; Germany accepts arbitration
In principle. but finds a multitude of small
= adjustments TO be made before entering
into the agreement; Italy. as the junior
partner of the allies declares that she is
favorable to arbitration, but will be bound
by the action of the senior partners. To
secure these results the American embas-
sies at London, Berlin and Rome have been
structions of Secretary Hay to ascertain
now the proposals would be received.
As far as England is concerned the safe
guards referred to are believed to relate to
the question of guarantee which is full of
difficulties: In this connection. indicated
In these dispatches yesterday, some consid-
GRAFTON is again given to the feasibility of
the assumption of responsibility for any
award assessed against Venezuela by re-
sponsible private agencies. but the United
States government is determined not to
allow itself to be drawn into the position of
guarantor IN this case, Tor the precedent.
once established. might require the United
States TO become the financial backer of all
South and Central America. However if
private concerns can be induced to enter the
field the Unite 1tates government will do
what 1T can to uce their risks Secretary
Hay. Sir Micht Herbert. the British ap-
bassador, and Senator Depew were in corr
ference to-day, and il is suspected this
phase or the case was touched upon al
though no confirmation can be had at this
time.
The German position presents the greatest
diniculties. for not only does 1t involve de-
mand for apologies. which are extremely re-
pugnant to Venezuela. but also presents so
many points requiring adjustment that 1t is
evident many days, or perhaps weeks must
elapse before the adjustment can be erect
ed and the case prepared for arbitration
And the danger OF delay in the face of
blockade which seriously cripples neutral
commerce and invites hostile collisions with
the VenezuelaEs cannot be Overestimated
The efforts OF the United States. therefore.
must be directed toward fastening Ger
many's action on the arbitration proposal
The Italian position is. of course of less
concern than that OF the other allies The
Italian ambassador here, i'm his intercourse
with the State Department has been ex-
Sremely mqaerate and considerate. giving
Secretary Hay the impression that he is
well disposed to second any effort of the
United States to terminate the present dam
The French government has served notice
that without abating her claims the nav
ment Tor which has been arranged she
also claims the right to have the claims of
French citizens which have arisen since the
adjustment above spoken of considered by
the joint tribunal which will adjust the
Venezuelan debts on basis of eoualitv
with those of the other nations This con-
tention is strongly resisted by some of the
IS likely TO lead 20 the consumption of much
time and which must be disposed of before
a final arrangement can be made to arbi-
trafe the case.
The official day closed without further
developments here respecting the Ven
ezuelan complications. The status of the
arbitration proposition on which every
one waits, was. that with a Willingness 10
accept such solution in principle no one
OF the allies was ready TO submit unre-
servedly 10 arbitration; in each case there
were reservations or conditions insisted
upon. Respecting the method OF arbitra :
tion. IL IL should come TO that form of
adjustment, IL II noted that the feeling is
growing that The Hague tribunal should
undertake the case. Mr.. Bowen IL Is re-
ported. wishes TO come TO Washington in
order personally TO effect an adjustment
with the resi- tent amba ssadorS of the allies
but while the State Department makes no
statement on the point IL is believed that
IL does not egard this plan with favor.
IL Is pointed out here. in connection with
the project 10 refer the matter 10 The
Hague tribunal that In some phases the
disputes will not admit OF arbitration
Such is the case. for instance. where at
tacks on British and German subjects and
the German legation at Caracas and ar
rests of consular officers have made the
Venezuelan offense equivalent TO attacks
on the national honor OF the allies and as
such 10 be atoned for only by an ample
apology. The Hague tribunal could not
arbitrate such issues. but IL Is pointed out
at the State Department that the claims
are divisible and that If President Castro
chooses 10 render the necessary apologies
the remaining questions can probably 20
20 The Hague. IL Is believed thai the
United States government inclines 10 the
view that there Is disposition 10 insist
by Venezuela OF any judgment that might
be rendered against her By the arbitra-
iishtened pubic opinion @ Would Id absolutely o sh,
Insure a settlement OF any judgment
sendered by the august tribunal and that