The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-01-03
JUSTIFIES OUR COURSE
United States Acted in Accordance
With Hague Convention.
WAITING FOR cAsTRo's REPLY
Washington Believes That When Vene-
zuela Accepts Arbitration the Allies
Wil Agree to Raise the Blockade.
EuroDea, Publici~ss Aps,~ercd
\ Publieists Answered.

WIZ agree 10 NSiSe tne btoCkade.
European Publieists Answered.
Washington. Dee. Yesterdays
meeting of the cabinet was brief. the
session consuming less than an hour.
All the members except Secretary
Shaw. who is in New York. were pres
ent. The president and his advisers
exchanged fluctuations upon che re-
suits of the past years administration
and looked forward with hopeful an
ticipation 10 the events OF the new
year.
Secretary Hay had little new 20 pre-
sent to the cabinet on the Venezuelan
question or upon other matters relat.
ing to foreign affairs. II is under
stood to be the hope and expectation
OF the president and his advisers that
upon the receipt cf President Castro's
reply to the arbitration proposition
the allies viii agree 10 raise the block
ade established by them over Venezue-
Ian ports. Such action. in the view
Of this government. would place the
questions in controversy in excellent
shape for arbitration Inasmuch as GER
tain European publCists have taken
exception to the efforts OF the United
States to bring about arbitration be-
tween Venezuela and the allies. as
violation Of all the traditions and rules
OF international Intercourse the atten-
ton OF one of the most eminen, Amer
lean members OF the representatives
at The Hague conference. one Of the
men who framed The Haeue convcn-
ton itself was directed 20 the criti-
cisms. He very promptly cleared away
the MISUNDERSTANDING On this point ly
pointing 10 article - of The Hague
convention as justification OF the at
utude OF the United States. This ar
ticle reads:
The signatory powers consider II
their duty, 81 serious disnute threat
ems 20 break out between two or more
of them TO remind these latter that
the permanent court IS open "a them
Consequently they declare. that the
fact Of reminding the conflicting par
ties of the provision OF the present
convention. and the advice given TO
them. In the highest interests OF peace
10 have recourse % the permanent
court can only he regarded as friendly
actions"
The parasraph was proposed by
France, and. sinsr'arly enough. 80 was
opposed principally by tho United
States. yet tho United States is the
first Of the nations 10 avail OF its pro-
visions. Tho reason Tor the opposition
OF our delegates was a fear on their
part that IL would seem 70 be n be-
stowal OF power upon European coun.
tries 20 intervene in American AFFAIRS
and in a manner an infringement OF
the Monroe doctrine. The French dele
gates were exceedingly anxious 70
carry the paragraph however. and
they finally succeeded In quieting the
opposition OF the United States dele
gates through the reservation by the
latter Of the right TO deal with Ameri-
can affairs in accordance with our
established doctrines. This was
thought TO safeguard the Monroe doc
trine, though it is held here II only
recorded an opinion OF the United
States delegates and did not bind The
Hague tribunal as whole.