Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-27
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
NNa.L:,o.Aor Ii 4 nocn,nhnr u

EKOM w ASHINU lON'
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. C., December p.
The conditional agreement by the
powers to permit the Venezuelan dis
pute to 20 to the Hague for argument is
far from a settlement of the trouble ac-
cording to official views here. The
State Department, following the GUS
toms of diplomatic courtesy, refuses to
make known any of the conditions i'm
posed by Great Britain and Germany
precedent to submitting their case to the
tribunal. but rumors Of their details,
fairly reliable on their face, have
reached this country from foreign CAPT
tals. These indicate not only Sack of
harmony between the allies bur the
conditions themselves seem likely to
prove impossible from the Venezuelan
standpoint. Germany has undoubtedly
chung to her first position and demands a
preliminary payment Of cash and 1t is
also believed here that the guarantee
feature has not beer wholly abandoned.
There can no longer remain any hope at
London or Berlin that the United
States will supply this guarantee or be
in any way its endorser, and any other
method of furnishing this warrant is at
present, to say the least, very vague.
President Roosevelt is anxious to meet
the powers half way in this regard, but
is constrained by the difficulty Of keep
ing this country from being involved
even in the slightest degree. One in
teresting feature of the situation is the
gradual growth of the United States
from an attitude of absolute neutrality
and almost indifference into that of an
active intercessor in behalf Of Vene-
zuela. The disappointment expressed
generally in London indicates clearly
that the request that President Roose-
welt act as arbitrator was intended to
draw the United States into the con-
troversy further than it cared to go or
should permit itself to go.
At the State Department it is positive
ly denied that this country is participant
ing in the formulating of a preliminary
protocol, providing for arbitration be-
tween the powers and Venezuela. IL Is
said that President Roosevelt, in declin-
ing to act as arbitrator, declined in
spirit as well as in letter, and to AS
sist in arranging preliminaries would
be inconsistent. Whether the block
ade will continue during the nego-
tations is yet to be learned here and
evidently to be determined by the allies.
In such an unprecedented case, it is
difficult to outline in advance any course
of action and although a cessation of
hostilities is here deemed 2 wise move,
Germany, Great Britain aud Italy may
consider it necessary to continue their
immediste surveillance of Venezuelan
affairs.
Aglipay, the head ofthe new National
Filipino Church, has issued "mani-
festO" to the natives declaring friend
ship for America and American institu-
tons. A copy of the paper has reached
Washington by mail. 1t advises the
natives to send their children to the
American schools and to obey the laws
laid down by the Philippine commission.
Ladislaus Hengelmueller Won Henger-
var, who was recently elevated by
Austria-Hungary from the rank of
minister TO that of Ambassador to the
United States, was officially recognized
for the first time in that capacity ly
President Roosevelt this morning. The
Ambassador was conducted to the White
House by Secretary Hay and personally
delivered his credentials to the Presi
dent.
The official programme for the Presi-
dents New Year reception, made pub
lie today, provides for the observance of
the usual rules of precedence governing
such affairs, the members of the Cabinet
and the diplomatic corps being received
first at II o'clock. Following then will
come the Judiciary, then members of the
Senate and House, officers of the Army
and navy and marine corps, assistant
secretaries of department, chiefs of
bureaus and other minor officials and
members of the veterans associations.
The general public will be received at
l p. IN.
The Secretary of the Navy has directed
Rear Admiral Evans, commanding the Asiat-
ic station, to send Commander John +. Roller
TO his home in this country. Complaint was
made that Commander Roller entertained his
wife on board his ship two or three weeks at
time. Admiral Evans reported the circum-
stance to the Navy Department with the sug
gestion that Commander Roller be recalled
from the station. The incident, well-known
to be in violation TO naval regulation, has at
tractad a oraat deal Of comment