The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-12-27
A COMPLIMENT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
Great Britain and Germany Request Him to
Act as Arbitrator i'm Settling the Dis
pute with Venezuela---He Is
Undecided.

send Dewey or some other naval con.
stable down to serve the papers.
Might Lead to Protectornte.
Members of the ca binet, who are op-
posed to the president acting as arbi-
traitor, say that if he does consent, he
will sooner or later be forced to do the
thing which Great Britain and Ger
many are now doing, which is to seize
the only availa BILE revenue of the coun-
try. This would mean. it is feared, a
manent. Many conservative men look
upon this contingency as one to be
avoided.
Acceptable to Castro.
Caracas, Dec. 22.-In the name of
Venezuela President Castro has sig
nified acceptance of President Roose-
welt to arbitrate the Venezuelan diff
Guilty.
Selected After Concentrations.
Berlin, Dec. 22.-The semioflicial
statement made Saturday night says:
The invitation to President Roose.
after thorough consultation be-
tween Germany and Great Britain.
An understanding has been reached
by the two powers on the reserva-
lions attached to the offer and the
German note will agree with the
English note on all essential points"
blockade In Effect.
Port of Spain, Trinidad, Dec. 22.--
The blockade of Venezuelan ports
was begun with an effective force at
midnight Saturday night.
Not Yet Accepted.
Washington, Dec. 23. President
Roosevelt has not accepted the posi-
ton of arbitrator of the Venezuelan
controversy. In fact, when the Off
cial day closed he had not received
formally or officially, request from
the European powers that he act as
arbitrator of the dispute. These
statements are made on the highest
authority. In an informal manner
the president has been notified that
the European powers intimately con-
cerned in the present South Ameri-
can difficulty desire that he should
undertake the responsibility of act
ing as arbitrator of the points at is
sue between them and Venezuela.
Thus far, they merely have been TAX
ing "soundings," with a view proba-
bly, of ascertaining how he would re-
ceive formal proffer to act as ar
bitrator. The president, so soon as
he received the first intimation that
he was desired to be arbitrator of
the Venezuela controversy, expressed
emphatically his judgment that the
matters to be arbitrated should be
referred to The Hague tribunal. His
view of the suggestions made has
been conveyed to the European pow
ers, together with strong presen-
tation of his reasons for the view
he holds. No response of formal ma
ture to these representations has
been received.
The acceptance by the powers of
the principle of arbitration as ap-
piled to the Venezuelan question, is
a matter of great qualification to
the president and his cabinet That
all the powers have intimated, too,
that they would prefer the president
should arbitrate the present dispute
is taken as notable compliment to
the president personally and to his
administration. 1t is the hope of
both the president and his advisers,
however. that while there is prece-
dent for his acceptance of the post
of arbitrator. the powers will con-
sent to a reference of the controvert-
ed matters in the Venezuelan ques-
ton to the tribunal at The Hague.
Will shirk No Responsibility.
While it is recognized by the presi-
dents closest advisers and by the
president himself that some unpleas-
ant possibilities might attend his per-
Torrance Of the duties of arbitrator
of the pending Venezuelan difficulty,
his friends assert that he will shirk
no responsibility that he may deem
it his duty to undertake, but will ac-
cept if the powers should insist on it,
though he is very reluctant to do so.
Formal Request Made.
Berlin, Lee. So.-lne nOIeS OF Ger
many and Great Britain formally in
viting President Roosevelt to act as
arbitrator in the Venezuelan dispute
were handed to the United States am
bassador here and to the United
States charge in London Monday.
Effect of the blockade.
Caracas, Dec. 23.-The blockade is
proving prejudicial to American
trade. Fifteen importing houses in
Caracas have stopped placing orders
in the United States. Boulton & Co.
are the only importers of American
flour who have declined to increase
the price of this article. The people
benefit by this firms action. 1t is
estimated that the food supply in
Caracas will not last much more than