The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-02-12

Will L. DOWcu.
Washington, Feb. 7-President Roos-
evelt has declined the invitation of the
allied powers tn arbitrate the question
as to whether they shall receive D; efer-
entail treatment in the settlement of
their claims against Venezuela over the
other creditor nations. He reached
this decision shortly after 4 o'clock,
and instructed Secretary Hay to dis
patch note to the British embassy at
once, advising the British ambassador
to that effect. The matter, therefore,
now will be referred to the Hague.
This will result in the immediate rails
ing of the blockade. The administra-
ton, it is stated in official quarters,
was unwilling to approve the effort of
the British governmet to eliminate
Minister Bowen from the negotiations,
and, moreover, the president could not
have accepted the invitation of the al
lies, even if he had been so disposed,
without the consent of the other nego-
tiator, Minister Bowen, and this the
allies did not obtain or request in their
note to the president.
Immediately upon the receipt of Sec
rotary Hays note announcing the pres
ident's declination, the British ambas-
sador addressed communication to
Mr.. Bowen stating that he was suffer-
ing from the grip, and would be obliged
if Mr.. Bowen would call on him. The
Venezuela representative Immediately
went to the British embassy. where the
British ambassador explained that he
had been too ill to call for several DAYS,
and announced the arrival of his proto-
col, which he was prepared to submit
to Mr.. Bowen for signature. Later, the
German minister, Baron Won Sternberg,
called on Mr.. Bowen and announced
the arrival of his protocol. The next
step on the program will include pre-
liminary preparations for the signing
of the protocols. Two protocols are to
be signed by Minister Bowen with
the Italian ambassador, two with the
British and two with the German am
bassador. The first protocol in each
case will, provide for the reference of
the contention of the allies for prefer
entail treatment to the Hague. and the
raising of the blockade simultaneously
with the signing of this convention.
In administrative and diplomatic cir
Giles the reference to the Hague is re-
garded as victory for Minister Bowen,
as Venezuela is thereby enabled to re-
cover from the distressing effect of the
blockade before starting upon the pay
ment of her debts. The cumbersome
machinery of the Hague, it is expected,
will delay matters considerably, and
the payment OF creditor nations cannot
begin until the important question of
priority of payment for the allies is de-
cid~d. The finding of the Hague tri-
bunal may not be handed down for sew
eral months. The tribunal will also
decide the vital question to South Amer.
lean states as to whether blockades and
commandments entitle powers to pref
erential treatmentat the hands of their
powers their debtors. Coming from
the Hague it will establish precedent,
while decision on the point from Pres
ident Roosevelt would have carried no
such weight as decisive of point of in
ternational law. The effect of an ad-
verse finding by the president, there
fore, could not have prevented the al
lied powers from repeating their block
ade next month il they desired, where
as an adverse verdict from the Hague
would add new canon to the law of
nations and stop such procedure COM
pletely. 1t was to gain this principle,
which necessarily vitality affects not
only the future of other republics of
this continent, that Mr.. Bowen stood
out for arbitration by the Hague tribu-
nal instead of the president.