The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-27
PRESIDENT YIELDED
10 the Protests Made by His Political
Advisers and viii Not Serve.
RECOMMENDS THE HAGUE.
Suggestion Will Probably Be Accepted
by the Powers.
DISCUSSED AT CABINET MEETING.
II Was Made Plain that the Question
Was Not Up to Him.
NO BAD EFFECTS LIKELY 10 RESULT
From the Submission to The Hague
Beard but There Might Have Been
Had Mr.. Roosevelt Acted.
It Was Made Plain that the Question
Was Not Up TO Him.
10 BAD EFFECTS LIKELY TO RESULT
From the Submission to The Hague
Beard, but There Might Have Been
Had Mr.. Roosevelt Acted.


Especial to The Post)
Washington, December 26-Tbero has
been a material change in the Venezuelan
situation during the past twenty.four hours
The insistent protests OF the presldent's
advisers against his determination to accept
the responsibility Of arbitratlng the dispute
have nnally caused him to change hts mind
aud to revert TO his original suggestion
that the matter be submitted to the arbi
trauon tribunal OF The Hague,
This change OF mind, while unlocked for,
has not caused much surprise Official
Washington and the country at large are
becoming accustomed TO such changes and
have grown TO expect at least two or three
Of them before any important matter IS
settled. Forty-eight hours sgo the pres.
dent was all for arbitration by himself
To the protests Of members OF his cabluet
and others he replied that. while there
might be a possibility of embarrassing re-
suits II he consented TO act as arbitrator,
there appeared in bis mind to be a proba-
bility Of more embarrassment II he failed
10 SO act This. ~ must he remembered,
was after the receipt Of the official notices
from Germany and England, which. as wus
pointed out in these dispatches at the
time, were so worded as to make 1t posi-
bic for the president to accept or decline
as he saw TT But be still chung to bis
determination 10 accept. Secretary Hay
spent some time with him day before yes
terady and put forth many arguments
against his plan These arguments seemed
to he uuavailing and the information that
night from reliable and competent sources
was that the president would arbitrate.
Yesterday Mr.. Hay saw the president again
and at todays cabinet meeting the Yene.
zueau matter monopolzed attention. As
result it iG said that the president will
not consent 10 act rs arbitrator, hut viii
press mis- suggestion aueni The Hague aud
that that suggestion VIII probably be ac-
ccpted by the powers Statements 20 this
erect come from well informed persons
bearing tine same evidence Of accuracy That
characterized tho assertion forty.cisht
hours ago that tho president himself would
arhitrate The dispute unless he changed his
uiud
II is said that the principal argument
brought 10 hear ou tho president was that,
10 use n coroqual expression, it was not
on to hiu" 10 act as arbitrator lie would
undoubtedly have been Eratieed TO so act
because Of the prominence to be achieved
and he at Grst seemed to feel certain that
ihc ofGca notes when they arrived would
Doe ia the eject that the powers would
NOT arbitratc ut all unless he consented
,o take Charge Of the matter When he
found that the powers We're willing TO
arbltfate through sonic factor other than
himself. hc continued for while to think
he should consent to act Finally, how.
ever. he has been made to realize the
strength OF the protests from members Of