The suburban citizen., 1902-12-27
POWERS WILL ARBITRATE
Great Britain, Germany and Italy Send
Venezuelan Answer.
BERLINs REPLY is UNSATISFACTORY.
Ore Of Its Requirements Said to Be An Apol'
ogy From castrO--Asks Amends for the
Arrest Of Consuls and Slcklng Of Legation
--EngIands Chief Concern Is for Adequate
Guarantee Hay VIII Ask Allies to Recede.


Washington, D. C. (SpeciaD ,-Secre-
tary Hay has received partial responses
from the Governments OF Great Britain,
Germany and Italy respecting the pro-
posal to arbitrate the Venezuelan dill
ticulties.
Great Britain is favorable to arbitra-
ton with proper safeguards.
Germany accepts arbitration in prin-
ciple. but finds a multitude of small ad-
justments 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 probably
by the action OF the senior partners.
AS far as England is concerned, the
safeguards referred to are believed to
relate to the question OF guarantee,
which is full OF difficulties. Some con-
sideration is again being given to the
feasibility Of the assumption OF
responsibility for any award assessed
against Venezuela, but the United
tDldlNS IONtTllllGlll Is ANANllilllNN hpN
to allow itself to be drawn into the po-
sition OF a guarantor in this case, tor
the precedent, once established, might
require the United States to become the
financial backer OF all South and Cen
tral America However, il private con.
Germs can be induced to enter the field
the United States Government will do
what it can to reduce their risks.
Secretary Hay, Sir Michael Her
bert, the British Ambassador, and SEN
ator Depew we're in conference, and It
is suspected that this phase OF the case
was touched upon, although no conir-
nation can be had at this time.
The German position presents the
greatest difficulties for not only does it
involve a demand for apologies, which
are extremely repugnant to Venezue-
lans, bnt also presents so many points
requiring adjustment that it is evident
that many days or perhaps weeks, must
elapse before that adjustment can be
effected and the case prepared for arbi-
tration.
The danger of the delay in the face
of a blockade, which seriously cripples
neutral commerce and invites hostile
collisions with the Venezuelans, cannot
be overestimated The effort of the
United States, therefore, must be d-
rected toward fastening Germanys &C
tion on the arbitration PROPOSAL and
toward endeavoring to persuade it to
recede on some particular,
The Italian position is, OF course, OF
less concern than that OF the other al
lies. The Italian ambassador here, in
his intercourse with the State DeDart-
ment, has been extremely moderate
and considerate. giving Secretary Hay
the impression that he is well disposed
to second any effort OF the United
States to terminate the present dan
gerous situation,
The French Government has served
notice that, without abating her claims,
the payment for which has been ar
ranged, she also claims the right to
have the claims Of the French citizens
which have arisen since the adjustment
above spoken of considered by the joint
tribunal which will adjust the Venezu-
elan debts on basis OF equality with
those of the other nations.
This contention is strongly resisted
by some OF the allied Powers, and is
one OF the points which is likely to lead
to the consumption OF much time and
which must be disposed OF before a
final arrangement can be made to arbi-
trate the case.
Secretary Hay laid before the Cabi-
net meeting the latest phases OF the
Venezuelan situation as shown by the
correspondence he had had with our
Ambassadors and the Foreign Offices
at London, Berlin and Rome, and also
acquainted the members with the sub
stance OF the verbal exchanges which
had taken place with the Ambassadors
from those capitals in Washington
After thorough discussion OF the
subject, the Cabinet gave its unquali-
fed approval to everything that had
been done by Secretary Hay and also
o his plans for the future, so far as
hey were outlined 1t is gathered that
he attitude OF the United States is
or the present waiting one, in the
nope that the allies will soon be able
o agree upon the basis upon which
iheV are willing To accent arbitration,