New-York tribune., 1902-12-20
RESPONSES OF ALLIES.
All F,aUor Arbitration, But Impose
Conditions.
By This Associated Press.D

Washington Dec. 19.-Secretary Hay has re-
ceived partial responses from the governments
of Great Britain, Germany and Italy respecting
the proposal to arbitrate the Venezuelan diff
cultfes. Great Britain is favorable to arbftra-
tior with proper safeguards Germany accepts
arbitration In principle but fnds multitude or
small adjustments to be made before entering
into the agreement; Italy. the Junior partner
OF the allies, declares that she is favorable to
arbitration, but will probably be bound by the
action of the senior partners.
ENGLAND SEEKING GUARANTEES.
To secure these results the American embas
sizes at London, Berlin and Rome have been
working energetically in carrying out the in
structions of Secretary Hay to ascertain how
the proposal would be received. So far Eng
land is concerned, the safeguards referred 10 are
believed to relate TO the question Of guarantees,
which is full of difficulties. Some consideration
is again being given to the feasibility of the
sumption of responsibility for any award as
sessed against Venezuela by responsible private
agencies but the United States Government is
determined not to allow itself TO be drawn into
the position Of guarantor in this case. for the
precedent. once established, might require the
United States to become the financial hacker of
all South and Central America. However, if
private concerns can be induced TO enter the
field, the United States Government win do
GERMANY DEMANDS APOLOGIES.
The German position presents the greatest
difficulties for not only does it involve a de-
mand for apologies. which are extremely re-
pugnant to Venezuelans. but also presents
many points requiring adjustment that il is
evident that many days. or perhaps weeks,
must elapse before the adjustment can be ef-
fected and the case prepared for arbitration.
And the danger Of delay in the face Of a block
ade which seriously crippes neutral commerce
and invites hostile collisions with the Venezue-
lans cannot be overestimated. The efforts of
the United States. therefore. must be directed
toward Fastening Germany's action on the ar
bitration proposal.
The Italian position is, of course OF less
Germ than that OF the other allies. The Italian
Ambassador here has been extremely moderate
and consderate, giving Secretary Hay the i'm
preston that he is disposed to second any effort
of the United States to terminate the present
dangerous situation.
The French Government has served notice
that, without abating her claims, the payment
for which has been arranged she also asserts
the right TO have the claims of French citizens
which have arisen since the adjustment above
spoken OF considered by the joint tribunal,
which may adjust the Venezuelan debts on a
basis Of equality with those of the other nations
This contention is strongly resisted by some
Of the allied powers, and is Of the points
likely TO lead 10 the consumption OF much time
and must be disposed Of before & final arrange
ment can be made to arbitrate the case
SECRETARY HAYS COURSE APPROVED.
Secretary Hay laid before the Cabinet meeting
to-day the latest phases of the Venezuelan
situation shown by the correspondence he has
had with ambassadors and the Foreign Offices
at London, Berlin and Rome, and also ac-
Quainted the members with the substance of the
verbal exchanges which had taken place with
the ambassadors from those capitals in Wash
fngton- After thorough discussion of the
question the Cabinet gave its unqualified ap-
proval TO everything done by Secretary Hay
and TO his plans for the future far they
outlined 1t is understood that the atti-
tude Of the United States is for the present a
waiting one, in the hope that the three allies
will soon be able to agree on the basis which
they are willing to accept arbitration. 1t was
said that while the Venezuelan situation was
realized to be important, the subject did not en-
gross the entire attention Of the Cabinet So
far notice of the projected blockade Of Ven
ezuelan ports has been officially served on this
government
The official day closed without further de-
velopments here respecting the Venezuelan COM
plications. The status Of the arbitration propo-
sition. on which every one waits was that, with
NLlHS1eSS 10 accept Sucn q solution IN pr1n-
ciple, no Of the allies was ready to submit
unreservedly to arbitration. In each case res
erVations conditions insisted upon. Re
specting the method of arbitration, IL IT should
come to that form Of adjustment, 1t is noted
that the feeling is growing that The Hague
tribunal should undertake the case Mr. Bowen, |
IL is reported, wishes to come Washington in
order personally TO effect adjustment with
the resident ambassadors Of the allies, but while
the State Department makes statement on
that point, 1t is believed that il does not regard
this plan with favor.
SOME POINTS NOT ARBTTRABLE-
1t is pointed out here. in connection with the
project to refer the matter TO The Hague tri-
bunal that in some phases the dispute will not
stance. where attacks on British and German
subjects, the German legation at Caracas
and arrests Of consular officers have made the
Venezuelan offence equivalent to attacks on
the national honor Of the allies and as such
TO be atoned for only by ample apology. The
Hague tribunal could not arbitrate such issues
but IL is pointed out the State Department
that the claims are divisibe, and that if Presi-
dent Castro chooses to make the necessary
apologies, the remaining questions properly
go TO The Hague.
WONDER WHY THERE Is NO FIGHT.