The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-04
CHIEFS OF STATE SELDOM
PROVE SUCCESSFUL AS
ARBITRATORS OF DISPUTES

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President Roosevelt has been singu-
IarIy well advised in declining to act as
arbitrator in the difficulties that have
arisen between Venezuela on the one
hand. and on the other Great Britain.
Germany, France, and Italy For
not only has he increased the prestige
and Importance of the tribunal of The
Hague by causing the controversy TO be
submitted thereto for settlement. but he
has likewise avoided the disagreeabIe
experience that has fallen to the share
of nearly every reigniHE sovereign or
chief magistrate of a republic who has
accepted the role of umpire in interna-
tionaI quaEreIs during the last fifty
years or So In no single case have their
awards given satisfaction. and the his
tory of this peaceful Method OF effect
ing a compromise of disputes between
nations goes to show that it is the de
Cisions made by specially constituted
tribunals of arbitraion-that is to say,
by boards of international arbitration
which give rise to the least criticism and
iH-wiH on the part OF the powers con
cerned.
No Personal Trouble,
Chiefs OF state when they accept the
role of umpire IN differences between
foreign nations. as a rule turn over the
whole matter 10 some of their legal ad-
yisers and take no further trouble
about the affair, except 10 af1x their
signature to the opinion drawn up for
their approval by the lawyers, poIiti-
clans, and statesmen whom they employ
for the purpose. and concerning whose
identity, qualifications. and responsible
ity the parties in dispute are entirely
ignorant Unsatisfactory as this is. the
cause becomes even worse when the IL
1ustrious arbitrator insists on taking the
matter in hand himself, under the i'm
preston that his throne or his high
office has invested him with an abstruse
knowledge Of the intricacies Of interna-
tional law without ever having studied
The latter
The late King William of Holland. for
instance. when asked many years ago by
the United States and Great Britain to
determine the northeast boundary line,
on the subject Of which there was a
difference of opinion between the two
countries. took his umpireship very
much ''au serieux, insisted on regard
ing himself as very Daniel come 70
judgment. declined TO accept either the
American or The English contention, and
rendered q decision in favor of a pre-
posterous frontier line OF his own devils
ing. which was not only unacceptable to
both countries, but absolutely impossi-
bic, geographically as well as politically.
Fortunately the matter was subsequently
settled by the Observation-Disclosures
treaty
Political Considerations.
Monarcbs, moreover. as well as presi-
dents of republics, are always suspenct-
ed, rightly or wrongly Of being Influenced
IN their awards by political considera-
tions. This is inevitable, and no mat
ter how anxious an umpire of this kind
may be 10 make a perfectly honest and
unprejudiced decision, based wholly on
the merits Of the case, it is doubtful
whether he can bring TO the matter be
fore him a mind wholly free from bias
and perhaps unconscious partially
There IS no controversy that does not
lend itself TO constructions OF an en-
tireIy opposite ana yet equally plausible
and even honest character It ali de-
ponds upon the spirit IN which the ar
bitrator approaches the issue at stake.
and there is so little likelihood OF his
being able to escape suspicion of having
been Influenced by personal sympathies
and political considerations in one di-
Fection or another that il is difficult to
understand how any ruler can ever &C
cept the role Of umpire or why nations
should apply 10 him to settle their diff
ferenees rather than refer them 10
tribunal composed of several men OF
different nationalities-
Fair-Minded Sovereign.
There is no more fair-minded. up-
right, and sensible sovereign in ali
Europe than King Oscar of Sweden.
great-grandson of that old French
village notary at Pau whose son rose
from the ranks Of French infantry
regiment OF The line 10 the position Of
King Of Sweden and Norway. In
Yited 10 arbitrate ia the controversies
that have arisen between Germany. the
United States. and Great Britain in con
neetion with Samoa, he has quite re-
Gently given decision III favor Of /
Germany which has aroused a good deal
OF criticism both in this country and
Great Britain. Indeed, some Of the /
English papers have not hesitated to
assert that King Oscar was, perhaps /
uniutentionalIy, biased IN favor of Ger +
many by the secret military conven- /
tion which is understood TO exist be (
tween him and Emperor William with +
q view to combined military aad naval /
operations in the event of any German /
war with Russia. Emperor William in f
return Dledglng himself to assist King
oscar to reDeI any danger 10 his throne /
from without or from within.
There is 10 doubt that King Oscar
gave his Samoan award in accordance /.
with what ne believed 10 be the strict /
merits o. the case But there VIII al
ways be a large number OF people on
both sides Of the Atlantic who will ne