Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-19
The Venezuelan EmbrogIio.

Washington, Dec. l9.-lt was an
nounced at the State department this
morning that answers had been received
from Great Britain, Germany and Italy
to the proposal of arbitration made by
President Castro and forwarded by this
government. The answers, while adj
hitting the correctness of the principle
of arbitration, are not regarded as salts
factory on account of the conditions laid
down. Germany admits that arbitra-
ton is the proper manner OF settlement,
but she interposes so many conditions
as to make her answer anything but a
consent to arbitration. Italy says that
inasmuch as she is the youngest of the
three parties to the alliance she will be
willing TO abide by any disposition of
the matter agreed upon by the other
two. Even Great Britain's answer,
which is the most promising of all,
stipulates a number of considerations
which will take time for adjustment be-
fore arbitration could be entered into.
1t is generally understood here that Great
Britain is willing to accept arbitration
for herself, but in this she is restrained
by Germany. The character of the OBJ
iections to immediate arbitration inter-
posed by Great Britain and Germany are
not made public further than that one OF
them is that there must be some guarantee
that Venezuela will carry out the judg-
ment of arbtors. 1t is believed,
however, that one of the conditions laid
down by Germany is an apology from
President Castro for the arrest of German
consular officials and the sacking of the
German legation at Caracas.
Secretary Hay took the answers of the
three powers to the Cabinet meeting
with him this morning where they were
read and full discussion had thereon.
Efforts will now be made to obtain Presi-
dent Castro's acquiesence in as many OF
the conditions as possible, while at the
same time it will be automatically sug-
gested to Great Britain and Germany
that they recede from the more onerous
stipulations.
London, Dec. ia parliamentary
paper printed this morning gives num-
Der of questions relative to Venezuela,
put by Thomas Gibson Bowles, and the
answers to these questions by Premier
Balfour. Bowles asked whether the
operations against Venezuela agreed
upon by England and Germany was chat
referred toby Vice Admiral Douglas;
whether, in view of the destruction by
German naval forces of two gunboats
and the consequent impossibility OF
holding these gunboats as pledges, the
British government proposes to con-
tinue its Joint action with Germany;
whafhay IL ia nov proposed ~ establish
blockade over Venezuelan ports, and
whether any intimation has been re-
ceived from the government of the
United States that it will object to
American shipping being interfered with,
and if so how it is proposed to conduct
the blockade. Premier Balfour replies
to the first three questions in the at
frmative and to the fifth in the negative.
Objections to the blockade, he says, have
been carefully considered. They cannot
be altogether removed, as some of the
objections are inherent in that particu-
lar class of naval operations.
Rome, Dec. 10. Officials Of the
foreign office today expressed the belief
that the acceptance ofarbitration through
the American minister to Venezuela
would practically see the end of the
acuteness of Venezuela's troubles with
European powers.
Rome, Dec. 19.-It is announced
today that the Italian government, fol-
lowing the receipt of the proposition
from Washington that U. $. Minister
Bowen be invested with full powers to
settle the Venezuelan dispute, opened
up negotiations with both England and
Germany, looking to joint agreement
to the proposal.