Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-01-02
WON'T ACT AS
ARBITRATOR.
President Roosevelt Declines Invitation to Ar
range Settlement of Venezuelan Dispute
---Allies Agree to Refer the Matter
to The Hague Tribunal.


the general drift of newspaper com
ment this morning.
blockade VIII he Continued.
London, Dec. 29.-A dispatch to the
Central News from Rome says it has
been semi-oflicially announced that
under special agreements the block
ade of the Venezuelan coast by the
allies will continue during the arbi-
tration of the issues.
Hope for EARLY settlement.
Washington, Dec. 29-There were
no new features to the Venezuelan
situation here Sunday. Officials are
hopeful that the governments inter
ested will work tremendously and
conscientiously to reach an early and
final solution of the trouble. The ad-
ministrtion is anxious that there
soon may be an amelioration of the
blockade. 1t is certain this govern
ment will use every effort to have the
blockade called off pending consider
alton of the questions at issue by The
Hague tribunal, for the double rea-
son that its continuance is always
menace to peace and order and be-
cause of the harmful effects on
American shipping to Venezuelan
ports. Just what the allied govern
ments have determined upon in that
regard it is difficult to say, as Secre-
tary Hay uniformly has refused to
make public their reservations and
demands as preliminary to arbitra-
tion, feeling that such information
n, 4 "a,
themselves.
Presidents Note to Italy.
Rome, Dec. 29.-Ambassador Meyer
Saturday presented to the foreign Of
flee President Roosevelt's note on
the subject of Venezuelan arbitration.
The president says that although he is
very gratified at the confidence the
powers have shown in him by choos-
ing him as arbitrator, which position
he would have accepted if there were
no other means of solving the ques-
tion, he thinks it better to submit the
case to The Hague tribunal, especially
as all the powers concerned are will
ing.
The president adds that as there is
no question of national honor or ces-
sion of territory involved, after thor
ough consideration and in accord with
all the powers concerned, who have
shown an honorable spirit of mutual
consideration and moderation, he is
glad to be informed that they all have
agreed to submit the question to The
Hague tribunal.
| Dowcn's RecOmm endationS.
Caracas, Dec. 29.-United States
Minister Bowen and Lopez Baralt,
Venezuelan minister of foreign af-
fairs, held long conference Saturday
night. Mr.. Bowen, obeying instruc-
tions from Washington, conveyed to
Senor Baralt President Roosevelt's re-
fusal to act as arbitrator in The Venez-
uelan difficulty. He recommended
that the matter be taken to the inter-
national peace court at The Hague,
which had been expressly organized to
consider questions in which the honor
of u country or the disposition of ter
ritory were not concerned. He sug-
gestcd the organization of commits
sion to sit in Washington, the allied
powers to be represented on this COM
mission by their ambassadors to the
United States and Venezuela by dele
gate. The commission is to sign
document setting forth the matters to
be decided at The Hague court. Mr..
Bowen said also that Germany would
not press for an immediate payment,
and that she had agreed to accept
guarantee based on n percentage of
the customs receipts. AS a result of
this conference Senor Baral tele-
graphed President Castro to return
from LaVictoria. The president will
reach here to-day, and Venezuela's an
swer to the foregoing proposal will be
given then.
Wants blockade Lifted.
1t is understood that Venezuela will
make any concession, even aban-
doning her demand that her navy be
returned. Through the Venezuelan
delegate to the commission the Ven
ezuelan government will ask that the
blockade be lifted at once. Senor
Baralt has expire ssed the desire that
Mr.. Bowen represent Venezuela on
the commission; if Mr.. Bowen cannot
accept the post, it is suggested in Off
cial circles that ii be given to w. w.
Russell, secretary to the American le-
cation.
Senior Baralt has prepared the fol-
lowing statement: "Venezuela agrees
to pay all her debts, the payments to
be guaranteed by certain percentage
of the customs receipts or by the fio-
tation of special loan, also TO be
guaranteed l believe the proposal
to submit the issues to The Hague will
be acceptable to President Castro. i
am sorry that President Roosevelt was
unable to act as arbitrator"