The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-20
NAY NOT ARBITRATE
Outlook For Peaceful Settlement Of
Venezuelan Dispute Not Bright.
REPUBLICS WORD UNRELIABLE

British Foreign once says Many DIFF
fieulaes Prevent Arriving at Basis
Fer Observation-Disclosures States Win
Net Guarantee Venezuela's Pledges.
London. Dee. 1T.-At the foreign Of
fee last evening ii was said that no
decision had yet been arrived at In
regard TO Venezuelan arbitration. Many
difficulties nave arisen i'm the way OF
arriving at "a basis oil what can be ar
biuated and what can be otherwise
settled Tho outlook FOR pacific set
tement OF the dispute is not particu-
larry brisbt
judging from statements given out
by the foreign Office. the Venezuelan
situation does not appear to be any
nearer a settlement. No suggestion
has been made that Great Britain
could eventually see It's way 10 sub
hitting its claims 20 arbitration. and
the iorcien office points ont that Nene-
zuela's odev TO arbiuatc is extremely
vague. President CosA i'm the COM
muuicauon IN which he expresses his
willingness 70 resort % arbitration.
provides 10 guarantee that the rights
of British subjects "a Venezuela will
be respected pending the award The
Willingness of Venezuela To arbitrate
the financial claims, however. will
meet with no opposition in Official cir
cles in london. nor is there any desire
10 stir zap opposition here by continu-
ing unnecessarily the present armed
compact with Germany; but quoting
from the foreign office. at the same
time thore is NOT ihc slightest inclna-
ton To let Venezuela so UNPUBLISHED
for her repeated insults and injuries.
The offer to araitrale comes very late
in the day. We are not seeking a
quarrel. but We must insure ourselves
against recurrence of the acts which
led 90 the present situation"
The forcisn Office appears 70 be
without oficial cogniz1nce of The atti-
tude OF the Washington government.
although 80 is convinced unoTlcialiy
that Washington is anxious that furth-
or hostiliues be avoided. Il Is known
that the foreign Office has made In.
CURRY as To whether the United States
would BE- willing 20 guarantee the full
filling OF Venezuela pledges. either
al the immediate cessation Of the
present European action or ending the
award of arbitrators This INQUIRY re
suited in a direct negative from the
United States.
With the guarantee OF the United
States. the foreign Office SAYS. arbitra-
ton IN the Venezuelan matter would
be an immediate probability; but. with
only the word oi a government hither-
TO unreliable. arbitration is dificult Of
accepting even upon the points where
international relations admit OF such
a method of settlement.
Germany Won't Consider Arbitration.
Cologne. Dec. 1.-THE Cologne Ga
zette publishes a dispatch from Ber-
lin which says il is doubtful II. at the
present stage OF the Venezuelan diff
ficulty, arbitration can be considered
by Germany. Germany can AFFORD TO
await. the dispatch adds. the outcome
OF a situation that is very uncom-
Portable for President Castro.
Italy Desires Arbitration.
Rome. Dec. I7-Ia the Hobbies OF the
chamber of deputies Venezuela was
the exclusive topic of conversation.
The opinion Of majority OF the depu-
ties is that Germany has been 100 az
gressive in her actions, which are cal
culated to complicate the situation. 1t
IS therefore thought TO be eminently
desirable that the Venezuelan matter
be settled by arbitration.