The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-02
President Roosevelt Declines to Ar
bitrate the Dispute with
Venezuela.
ALLIED POWERS REACH AN AGREEMENT.
They Will submit to Arbitration of
The Hague Tribunal, Providing
President Castro Offers an Apology
for Certain Enumerated Ofenses--
Thought He Will Yield.

Roosevelt will not be the arbitrator
of the Venezuelan controversy. The
whole veNatious subject will be re-
ferred for adjudication to The Hague
tribunal.
Epitomized, this was the situation
as it had resolved itself at the conclu-
sion of the cabinet meeting Friday.
The meeting was not so long as the
sessions of the cabinet usually are. All
the members except Secretary Root
We're present. The Venezuelan ques-
ton was the principal and practically
the only topic of general concern I'M
der consideration. Secretary Hay pre-
sented the net results of his cable cor
respondence with the governments at
London. Berlin. Rome and Caracas. In
accordance with the suggestions made
several days ago by President Roose-
Welt, through Secretary Hay, Presi-
cent Castro, of Venezuela, was report
ed to have agreed to submit the differ
ences between his government and the
European powers to the arbitration of
the tribunal at The Hague. The Eu-
ropean powers not only consented to
submit the controversy to arbitration,
but. while they had expressed a prefer
ence for an arbitration to be conduct
ed by President Roosevelt, they had
assented to his suggestion hat the
matter be referred to The Hague.
The presentation of the ease met the
hearty approval of the members of the
~ lipaf .- No foor . a~rracca1 Inv tho
administration that the Monroe doc
trine will be brought into the contro-
versy in any n that might result
in an embarrassing situation for the
United States. Secretary Hay is pre-
pairing a note to the powers in which
the qualification of this government is
expressed for the course agreed upon
by them in settlement of the pending
difficulties.
Must Apologize.
President Castro, only by apologize
ing to Great Britain and Germany
for the attacks made upon the for
eign legations at Caracas and agree
ing to certain conditions upon which
the powers insist, can pave the way
to have the embroglio referred to
The Hague arbitration tribunal for
settlement. Great Britain, Germany,
Italy, Venezuela itself, and the Uni
ted States all desire to have this
cours pursued. and unless the South
American president displays an I'M
compromising spirit the difficulty
which has involved the leading pow
ers of the world can certainly be set
tied amicably. The officials here re.
gard it as quite certain that Castro
viii not show a stubborn spirit when
he is made to realize that the powers
will not make any more concessions.
His apology and compliance with the
other conditions, which the state de-
partment refuses to discuss, is conf
IDENTIFY expected after a little prelin,-
mary show of resistance on the part
of President Castro. On the Other
hand, however. it is quite possible
that the belligerent South American
will decline to apologize, as he may
hold that he has nothing to apollo
gize fer. Castro may insist on this
point, and, after all, President Roose-
ve1t, as the only way out of the diff
Guilty. would be called upon to arbi-
trate the question as to whether
Venezuela shall apologize to Germany
and Great Britain before the points
involved in the controversy are sub
mitted to The Hague tribunal.
Allies Agree to The Hague.
Berlin, Dec. PA semi-oficial note
Friday says: AS in the case
of the Italian note, the British and Ger |
notes on Venezuela presented De- |
cember 90 declares that if President
Roosevelt does not accept the post of
arbitrator, the powers would be pre-
pared, subject to certain reservations. |
submit the matter to The Hague
tribunal.
Opinion In London.
London, Dec. 27.-Except by the
opponents of the government who
view it as a virtual defeat and as |
d~iscrediting the ministry, the latest
phase of the Venezuelan trouble has
been welcomed very lukewarmly.
Arbitration by President Roosevelt
nad been anticipated as so desirable
an issue from a difficult business that
his refusal, which is regarded as final.
caused keen disappointment. 1t
IS foreseen that even if satisfactory
10 the submission of the
disputes to The Hague court can be
arranged, this method will entail
endless and wcarisome details. with
no assurance that at the end Presi-
lent Castro still will be in power
OF Venezuela in the mood to abide bv
decision of The Hague. In short.
element of guarantee which
would have accompanied Rooseyelt,s
acceptance of the Office of arbitrator
IS now lacking. At the same time q
IS readily admitted that from the
point of view President
Roosevelt has acted wisely in declin.
to act. The foregoing represents
Inc general drift of newspaper com
this morning.
49, 1
Mrs. Grants WIZ.
Washington, Dec. 27.-hs-s. q.
Grants will, fled for probate. die.
poses Of an estate worth about $780,