The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-26

Great Britain and Germany formally
inviting President Roosevelt to act
as arbitrator in the Venezuelan dis
pute were handed to the United
States ambassador here and to the
United States charge in London to-
day.
Washington, Dec. 22.-President
Roosevelt has not accepted the posi-
ton of arbitrator of the Venezuelan
controversy.
The president and Secretary Hay
had a long conference today after the
formers return from his Virginia
trip. They carefully went over the
situation as it had developed since
Saturday, but it is understood nothing
has arisen during the past 48 hours
to warrant the president in chang
ing his opinion as to the undesirable
ity of his acceptance of the position
of arbitrator. So far as can be learn
ed, no specific reasons have been adj
vanced by the European powers for
objecting to a reference of the Vene-
zuelan questions to the arbitration of
The Hague tribunal. 1t is held by
the administration that the object of
the tribunal is to arbitrate just such
questions as have arisen between Ven
ezuela and the powers and that it
would be desirable from every view
point that the present dispute should
go to that tribunal for adjudication.
How strong are the objections
which the allied powers have to a
reference of the Venezuelan difficulty
to The Hague tribunal is not known
to the administration at this time.
Even the nature Of the objections, if
there be any, is not known. The ne
gotiations looking to the selection of
an arbitrator have not progressed suf-
ticiently yet to develop such objec-
lions as the powers may have.
Compliment to Roosevelt.
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 that the president
should arbitrate the present dispute
is taken as a 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 precedent
for his acceptance of the post of arbi-
TRAITOR, the powers will consent to a
reference of the controversial mat
tiers in the Venezuelan question to the
tribunal at The Hague.
News Of Blockade.
The following cablegram has been
received from Commander Diehl, of
the Marietta, which lies at La Guayra.
The message comes via Hayti and is
dated Yako:
British vice-admiral established eff
fective blockade from and after De-
cember 20, off La Guavra, Carenero,
Guanta, Cumana, Carupano and the
mouth of the Orinoco.
Ambassador Tower has notified the
state department from Berlin that he
I@~ ~o4oSxol spf0rro oftoy from fbn
German government that the German
squadron has blockaded MarciabO
and Porto Cabello, effective Deem
Der 20.
Ambassador Meyer has cabled that
he received yesterday from the min
lister of foreign affairs an official note
dated December 20, announcing that
Italy had decided to participate with
her naval forces in the blockade of
Venezuelan ports which had been de-
clared by the British and German
governments.
Lieutenant Marbury tombstone. the
officer detailed by Admiral Dewey to
go to the relief of Minister Bowen at
Caracas. has advised the navy depart
ment of his arrival there. He will be
stationed at the American legation
as assistant to the minister. When
Lieutenant tombstone arrived, Satur-
day night the city was quiet, though
the ~anti-foreign feeling was intense.
Awaiting Formal Replies.
The United States government is
awaiting the reception of formal an
swers from the allied governments
to the presidents suggestion that the
Venezuelan dispute be referred to
The Hague.