The San Francisco call., 1903-01-16
aHE VENEZUELA SETTLEMENT.

adjustment oil the venezuela QllHCullyI
which is in sight, is agreeable to those who
seek justice, and stimulates the proper pride
OF the people of the United States. By OF our
Government our Minister to Caracas, Mr.. Bowen,
has become Commissioner OF Venezuela, and has been
apparently given plenary power to proceed to Wash
ington and with the Ministers of Great Britain and
the other powers west of the Danube which are
Serned effect final settlement.
1t is evident that this means that complete ad-
justment and fnality will be attempted by diplo-
macy Mr. Bowen is in full possession of all the facts.
He knows the rights of the abused nationals of other
countries who have suffered by of Venezuela
disregard of her international obligations, and he
knows where justice ends and injustice begins in the
enforcement OF remedies against Venezuela.
While he acts for that Government with plenary
powers, in a still higher sense he acts for civiza-
tion for the right OF every country protect its
tionals who are deprived of their rights abroad and
above ALL he stands for the great code OF principles
which forms the body of the worlds international
law. He meets diplomats who are by the genius Of
the Governments they represent, committed to the
same principles and purposes International law in
fcts injustice. 1t is intended to carry into the
conduct of nations the intent OF the municipal law
whether it be the common or the civil law, which
is to establish justice and protect the common rights
OF person and property everywhere
1t will be observed that these great ntents of in
ternational law work to the establishment OF amity
and not enmity, in the world They are the means
OF extending civilization by permitting the free and
projected intercourse OF different peoples with each
other. From such contact nation learns from an
other, by absorbing the knowledge and noting the
worthy ways OF its people face face Ii there
international code the people of country would
be restrained from seeking domicie in any other ma
ton
1t may be said, with perfect truth. that no other
part OF the world. except China, Korea and Thibet,
needs the example OF other people enforced by inter
mixture with its population than Central
and South America The conditions which have put
the business enterprise, financial institutions and all
the OF life in Venezuela in the hands of for
eigners prevalent in all OF those Governments
cepting Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. These
conditions exist because of the revolutionary charac
ter OF the Governments whose people suffer from
them Enterprise and ownership OF property by the
citizens OF such countries unsafe except in the
case Of the very strong, who can equip an armed
force to defend their accumulations.
Mr.. Bowen is we'll aware of all these things and can
be trusted to consider the highest and most perma-
interests OF the people of Venezuela consistently
with the enforcement of justice foreigners who
have been despoiled. The agreement under which
he undertakes his difficult task involves final re-
sort The Hague tribunal But that means that a
weary time must be spent in drawing arbitrators
from The Hague jury AS we have said when this
waste OF time was sought to be avoided by making
President Roosevelt the arbitrator a difficulty was
presented in the fact that The Hague jury is largely
composed OF nationals of the countries which par
ties TO the controversy, so that the selection OF ar
bitrators would under the circumstances be very
delicate matter, Venezuela might we'll object to
going before Jury drawn from the countries with
which she joins issue But it soon became apparent
that il the President arbtrated the European nations
would construe surety for Venezuela on the part Of
the United States and that plan failed
Witness the victory of straight American dip
lomacy, by which Minister Bowen becomes in effect
arbitrator under such circumstances as bar any at
tempt construe surety and yet under such circum
stances inevitably compel Venezuela perform
her obligations under the award.
The American school of diplomacy is new, and is
based upon telling the truth and proceeding without
intrigue and trickery and there is bow OF promise
in the international sky, that this method will inn
press the diplomacy of the world to its final reform
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