The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-24
Commander of the Cruiser Giovanni
Bausan Poses Briefly as the Great
sTt, of the Blockade.
IGNORES TERMS OF DEGREES
AND DIsREGARDs INSTRUCTIONS OF
BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER,
But Backs Down After Protests from
mander DiehI, of the Marietta.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23-The Cabinet
spent the entire time of the meeting to-day
I'm discussion of the Venezuelan situa-
tion. Views for and against the Presi-
dents acceptance of the invitation to arbi-
trate were discussed. Pending the receipt
OF the invitation IL is stated that the Pres
fdent declines to commit himself as to his
course The meeting was prolonged to
more than two hours. All the members
were present. except Secretary Moody, who
Is out of the city. Secretary Root was the
first to arrive at the executive offices. He
entered the Presidents Office shortly after
10 o'clock. The President denied himself
to all callers and remained in consulta-
ton with the secretary OF war until the
arrival OF the other members.
Secretary Hay brought to the meeting
practically nothing new relating to the sit
uation- No response has been received to
the Presidents original suggestion to the
powers that they consent to the refer
ence of the Venezuelan controversy to the
arbitration of The Hague tribunal, and no
formal request had been received by the
President TO act as arbitrator OF the diff
Guilty. That such a request will be re-
ceIved formally and officially is now par
ticularly assured. II Is known that the
President and all of the members of his
Cabinet at first preferred that the whole
vexatious question should be referred to
The Hague tribunal. II Is understood
that the Presidents plan. IL he deter
mines TO arbitrate, contemplates the ap-
pointment of board of arbitration. He
would not confide this important undertake
ing to any one man, nor does he feel able
himself to spare the vast amount OF time
necessary for an examination in detail OF
each OF the many claims that would be
presented against Venezuela. Necessarily
the Presidents own board would include
some members of high order of legal
talent. as well as others thoroughly versed
in the practice of International law
II is said the crucial point before the
arbitration Is the famous "Calvo doctrine"
This doctrine which was laid down by the
greatest Of Latin-American international
lawyers and for very many years has been
regarded as beyond question by all Of the
Latin-American republics. denies the right
OF any nation to intervene automatically
in behalf Of one OF it's subjects where the
courts OF the country open to his ap-
plication for Justice Thus Venezuela has
asserted that all of these claimants, Brit
ish, German, Italian and French might
have gone before the Venezuelan. courts.
and IL their causes had been just and so
decided by the courts the government
would have paid the Judgments The OBJ
lection to this view is that no account is
taken Of miscarriages OF justice and of
racial antipathies.
A SALvADORIAN CASE.
But SO determined are the South Amer
ican countries to adhere to this doctrine
that some OF them have gone to extraordi-
nary lengths In their resistance of diplo-
matte efforts OF foreign governments to
secure justice for subjects. A notable case
is that OF Salvador. Recently a United
States corporation obtained. after arbitra-
tion, a judgment against the government
of Salvador. The verdict was received
with Intense indignation in Salvador, and
so intense was anti-foreign feeling excited
that law has been passed within the last
few weeks making II a criminal offense and
one to De heavily punished for any SAL
yadorian to give any evidence whatever
before any court I'm behalf of foreigner
claiming damages against the Salvadorian
government This doctrine will be on trial
before the arbitration and because of its
vast Importance IL President Roosevelt ap-
points board he will see that the men,
bers are men of the highest caliber
IL Is known that now some members of
the Cabinet are opposed TO referring the
matter to The Hague tribunal for these
reasons: In the first place they have no
desirs TO submit the Monroe doctrine to
the ar aIbitratment OF any nonamerican
tribunal. not even excepting the august
and eninently fair tribunal of The Hague
They vfy much prefer that II this doc
trine is TO be the subject OF arbitration
II II is 60 be even brought I'm incidentally.
that American influences shall pass on IL
Not that the fairness of The Hague arbi-
traitors is impeached. but as most OF them
represent European and monarchical in
terests. IL Is realized that their training
may be regarded as unsympathetic where
they are required 10 deal with such an es-
sent!ally American subject as the Monroe
doctrine IL IL true that on its face the
arbitration proposal contains nothing that
indicates that this doctrine Is TO be at
acked. but complex and numerous are
the Questions which will come before the
arbitrator that IL il arorehended here that
the famous doctrine scarcely can be kept
from consideration.
Another reason that animates these Cab