New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-19
SEEKING GUARANTEES
This Country WiU Not Be Respon-
si5le for Payment Of Claims.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

Washington Dec. 1S-Minister Bowen may
act intermediary between Venezuela ana
the European nations which are pressing for
the settlement of their claims, and may arrange
a basis for final and complete settlement oy
arbitration Officials of the administration be-
Iieve that this will be the ultimate result OF
the action of President Castro in conferr1ns
power on Minister Bowen to act for Venez-
uela in arranging a peaceful settlement What-
ever may be the action of the European gov
ernments, 1t is believed by the administration
that it marks the beginning of negotiations
which will prevent any further resort 10 force
by the allies.
Information to the exact extent OF tho
powers which Venezuela is willing to confer on
Minister Bowen is still lacking, but high orn-
cial of the government said to-day that If his
negotiations were to be effective he would prop
abIy have to be clothed with the right to make
the apology which Germany seems determined
to insist on though it might be waived by
Great Britain, and that ne would also have 10
possess power TO promise reparation for the IN
dignities to which foreigners and foreign hags
have been subjected in Venezuela, and to recog-
nze the right of Intervention by one nation to
enforce the claims of it's subjects for losses or
damages inflicted on it's citizens subjects
bv the acts of another government or by its fail
ure to afford them proper protection or redress
in its courts
Even if these powers conferred on Min
lister Bowen by Venezuela. it is probable that
the European nations will withhold their as
sent from mediation unless Mr.. Bowen can at
the same time give them assurances that ample
security for the payment of any judgments that
might be rendered against Venezuela by a court
of arbitration can be given 1t is feared by off,
ciaIs of the State Department. that this may be
a difficult matter. France has already secured a
lien on part of the customs revenues of the
country and information has reached Washlng-
ton that France has been assured by both Eng
land and Germany that nothing will be done by
them which will in any way conflict with this
ARRANGEMENT. 1t is questioned whether Ven
ezueia's revenues are large enough to enable her
to carry her government, pay the French
claims and leave amount sufficiently large TO
satisfy the claims of the other nations.
The suggestion that the United States should
guarantee the payment of the claims. either
directly Indirectly, is regarded with much
disfavor by the administration a direct guar
antee is regarded being out of the question
There remains the proposition that an American
banking firm or a syndicate of American bank
ers should guarantee the payment and that the
United States Government should give them
assurances of support in recovering from Venez-
uela, but 1t pointed out to-day that tnls
would amount to putting the United States in
the same position that Great Britain and Ger
many are now in and that this government
might find itself called upon to intervene TO
press the claims of its bankers, just as those
nations are now intervening to enforce the
claims of their subjects.
MONROE DOCTRINE RESPECTED.
1t is still the confident belief of the admins
tration that nothing will be done by the Euro
pean powers which can properly be construed
as a violation of the Monroe Doctrine Great
Britain Is believed to be much interested in
the enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine against
Germany and other Continental powers as is the
United States, and Germany has given positive
assurances that she has nc intention to acquire
territory in South America The administra-
ton valid reason for questioning the
good faith of these assurances.
II the Monroe Doctrine is respected. the United
States will not be dissatisfied to see the right
of intervention. asserted by the allies. Vindl-
Gated. This country has much interest In
the assertion OF this right in the Latin Amerl-
can countries as has either Great Britain or
Germany Citizers of this country are con-
tinually having difficulty in their efforts to OBJ
tain adjustment of claims and satisfaction for
personal damages in Latin American countries.
and If the recognition of this principle can be
secured from Venezuela it may tend to i'm
prove conditions throughout al Of the Latin /
American countries. That this view is taken by
the Latin Americans themselves was Illustrated
to-day by a member of South American lega- |
tion when he was asked whether his country /
took much interest in the Venezuelan situation.
mot unless we are next on the list, was his /.
reply.
That the administration will be supported by 1
Congress in its opposition guaranteeing the /
of claims against Venezuela was shown /
to-day by the action of the House Committee on /
Foreign Affairs on the Shafroth resolution pro- /
posing such guarantee. Though Mr.. Shafroth !
appeared before the committee and supported /
his resolution the general sentiment was against /
the esta blshment of such precedent. as likely !
to involve this country in innumerabe similar .
difficulties by the encouragement of South !
American countries to repudate their just debts I
and of European nations to press claims ON /
slight foundations 1t further argued by
of the committee that the Castro ad- /
had so mismanaged Venezuelan at
fairs as 10 minimize the resources of the coun-
try and that foreign investors then became the
sufferers The result was that the Shafroth
luton was laid the table, and the Mccall
of inquiry was favorably reported.
Mr. Bowen simply awaits the consent of the
State Department to assume the task of media
tor assuming that the allies willing that he
shall undertake this work
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