Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-12-10
CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA.

1t will be remembered that during the
second session of the last congress Great
Britain, Germany. and Italy formed an al
lance for the purpose of hlockading the
ports of Venezuela and using such Other
means of pressure as would secure a set
tlement of claims due. they alleged. to
certain of their subjects Their employ
ment of force for the collection of these
claims was terminated by an agreement
brought about through the offices of the
diplomatic representatives of the United
States at Caracas and the government at
Washington, thereby ending a situation
which was bound to cause increasing fric-
ton, and which jeoparded the peace OF the
continent. Under this agreement Vene-
Zuela agreed to set apart q certain per-
centage of the customs receipts of two of
her ports to be applied to the payment of
whatever obligations might be ascertained
by mixed commissions appointed for that
purpose to he due from her. not only to
the three powers already mentioned. whose
proceedings against her had resulted in
state of war. hut also to the United States,
France Spain. Belgium, the Netherlands.
Sweden and Norway, and Mexico. who had
not employed force for the collection of
the claims alleged to be due to certain of
their citizens.
A demand was then made by the So
called blockading powers that the sums as
such mixed commissions should he ac-
corded payment in full before anything
was paid upon the claims OF any or the
so-called peace powers. Venezuela, on the
should he paid upon basis of exact equal
itv. During the efforts to adjust this dis
pute II was suggested nv the powers In
interest that It should he referred to me
for decision. hut I was clearly of the opin-
ion that a far wiser course would be to
submit the Guestion TO tho permanent court
of arbitration at The Hague. Ii seemed
to me to offer an admirable opportunity to
advance the practice of the peaceful set
Element of disputes between nations and
to secure for the Hague tribunal a memor-
able increase of its practical importance
The nations interested in the controversy
were so numerous and in many instances
so powerful rs to make 1t evident that
beneficent results world follow from their
appearance at the same time hofore the
bar of that August tribunal of peace
0ur homes in that regard have been real
iZed. Russia and Austria represented
in he persons of the learned and diStin-
grished wrists who compose tho t-ihunal
while Great Britain. Germany. France
Snain. Italv. Belgium tho Netherlands
Sweden and Norway. Mexico. tho limited
states. and Venezuela are represented bv
their respective agents and counsel. Such
an in1nosing concourse of nations present
ing their arguments to and invoking the
decision Of that high court of international
fell TO secure like submission of MANY
frtura controversies Tho nations now ap-
poaring there will find ii far easier to ap-
pear there second time. while no nation
can Imagine its inst pride will be lessened
nv following the examine now presented.
This trinmDh Of the principie of Internal
ticpal arhitrTfion is subi~pt of warm
concentration and offers happy angury
for the peace of the world.