The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-12
Those Venezuelan Claims.

Inc SeUlOiIlclai press OF Vene1ueia ~
furiously kicking against the first decision
by mixed commission. approved by the
Venezuelan government, as to the claims
of the several powers against Venezuela.
The decision lays upon Venezuela the ne
cessity of paying s2,000OO0 to the Bel
gian company owning the waterworks at
Caracas, and Is met by the furious de-
nunciations of the Venezuelan press Of
the gentlemen Of the mixed commission
having charge of the claim, including the
Venezuelan umpire.
These Examinations were instigated by
the government Of General Castro, which
divulged the decision made at a secret
meeting OF the commission, and there
seems a strong probability that Castro will
not abide by the decision, as he pledged
himself to do The tone Of the press Is
extremely. hostile and menacing to Cas-
tro, If he accepts the decision. That emf
nent swashbuckler would repudiate any
adverse decision If he felt himself able to
contest it's fairness. One Of the Vene-
zuelan journals uses the following Ian
guage: How long will these humiliations
letSls OO"H. Will lIlo 1OISlSH SAtOII1OA-
ers and let us hold up high and firm our
national dignity and integrity" And one
Of the church organs charges our govern
ment with 'hypocritical diplomacy"
Last February, the negotiations for
raising the Venezuelan blockade and ar
ranging for putting the claims Of the va
rious creditor nations in the the way Of
the signing Of the several protocols. Cas-
tro agreed, after some haggling, to the
reference of all claims to mixed commits
sions, which were to examine them and
decide upon the amount to be awarded
in satisfaction Of each claim. The Vene-
zuelan government agreed to its respon-
sibility and liability in cases where the
claim Is for injury to or wrongful seizure
of property, and stipulated that the deci-
sions should be final. That government
also agreed that the question whether the
blockading powers should be entitled to
preferential treatment in the payment Of
their claims against Venezuela should be
referred to the tribunal of arbitra ton at
The Hague. -. m..} '-.
Castro is a very slippery citizen and
liable to default and also liable to be
fired from his presidential office by a rev.
olution, in the most unceremonious man
ner. He is tied up pretty effectually by
pledges to several nations, including the
United States, and to the latter he is in
| debted for deliverance from a European
armed invasion of his country for debt
collecting purposes, and for the arrange
ment which provides for peaceable set
tlement Of claims thru mixed commissions
and The Hague tribunal Of arbitration.
He will learn thru the proceedings of the
past year that 1t is to the interest of his
country to settle disputes by arbitration
and that, If he plays the role of repudia-
tor Of promises and debts it will go hard
with Venezuela, whose future is excep.
tionally bright If she does business on q
strictly honorable basis.
1t is likewise possible that the action O,
the United States, during the whole
Venezuelan incident" will bring to al
end the decidedly barbarous custom o.
collection of debts by force, by a cred
! itor nation from debtor state. Ameri
cans who make investments in Contra
and South America, a recognized preca
rious arena Of investments, do so at thei
own risk. The European nations will hav,
to follow the same course and give thei
citizens to understand that they put thei
} money in Spanish-America, south of Mex
leo, at their own risk.
| And as to all international claims, Their
Is now no excuse for any other adjust
ment process than that provided thru tn
, tribunal Of arbitration at The Hague.