The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-30
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1902.
THE GRAVE.

While quiet still reigns in the Carib-
bean and England and Germany are
taking no overt steps to place The
United States in a position where she
will have TO openly defy them through
maintenance of the Monroe doctrine Or
else abandon that principle in its most
important features, matters are eacn
day assuming such shape as to cause
uneasiness to the officials of our gov
The president has not yet
made reply to the proposition of the
three interested powers that he shall
act as arbitrator in the Venezuelan dis
pute. There are grave difficulties IN
the way of his accepting, as well as in
a reference of the questions to The
Hague tribunal. II the president az
cepts the position it will place him and
our country in the very delicate posi-
ton pointed out in these columns q
few days ago. In addition 10 this, the
European powers seem to be anxious
to push to a test the position of this
government on the Monroe doctrin.
This matter is receiving unusual at
tention in Europe at the present ynr'
and is being discussed in various
phases. all in opposition to the con
tention of our government. The pres:
dent, we are told by Washington dis
patches, fears that if he consents to
become arbitrator he will be forced
to define and assert our attitude in a
that will not be at all agreeable
to the European powers. On the other
hand, if the whole matter should so
before The Hague tribunal there is
danger of that court taking c~ognizanc9
of our claim of protection of the Latin
American governments under the Mon
roe doctrine, and its finding would
most probably be against us-on some
points al least, such as our contention
that no European power can acquire
territory from one of the South or Cen
trail American states eve by purchaS".
The European people and press are al
ready discussing this point. They CT
not see how we can declare these states
are free and independent powers and
at the same time deny their right TO
dispose of any of their territory. This
contention of ours would probably 81
down before this tribunal. Any way,
our government does not care to have
to defind it's position on this question
before an European court. Another
reason for opposing a reference of the
matter to The Hague tribunal is tina.
the governments in proposing Presi-
dent Roosevelt as arbitrator or as an
alternative, il he declined, reference to
The Hague court, requested that in
the latter case our government would
give assurances that such award as
was made against Venezuela would be
paid, thu making 1T a g%uarantor of tn
debts. This it cannot do.
Sc it can be seen in what 4 delicate
position our government is placed. wI:h
the possibility of the situation growing
graver each day.
Since the above was put in type the
press dispatches from Washington an
nounce that the president declines Il
act as arbitrator and the whole matter
will be referred to The Hague tribunal.
The members of the cabinet. we are
tol in this dispatch, declare they have
no fear for the Monroe doctrine from
this court. This is in contradiction OF
former dispatches on this subject. Per
haps they have decided to take the les
ser of the two evils and place the bes'
face possible on the situation.