The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-01-01
President Roosevelt Declines to Ar
bitrate the Dispute with
Venezuela.
ALLIED POWERS REACH AN AGREEMENT,
They Will Submit to Arbitration OF
The Hague Tribunal, Providing
President Castro Offers an Apology
for Certain Enumerated O6enses-
Thought He Will Yield.


Epitomized, this was the situation
as it had resolved itself at the conclu-
sion of the cabinet meeting Friday.
The meeting was not SO long as the
sessions of the cabinet usually are. AL!
the members except Secretary Root
were present. The Venezuelan ques-
ton was the principal and practically
the only topic of general concern I'M
der consideration. Secretary Hay pre-
sented the net results of his cable cor
respondence with the governments at
London, Berlin. Rome and Caracas. In
accordance with the suggestions made
several days ago by President Roose-
welt, through Secretary Hay, Presi-
dent Castro, of Venezuela, was report
ed to have agreed to submit the differ
ences between his government and the
European powers to the arbitration of
the tribunal at The Hague. The Eu-
ropean powers not only consented to
submit the controversy to arbitration,
but, while they had expressed prefer
ence for an arbitration to be conduct
ed by President Roosevelt, they had
assented to his suggestion that the
matter be referred to The Hague.
The presentation of the case met the
hearty approval OF the members of the
cabinet. No fear is expressed by the
administration that the Monroe doc
trine will be brought into the contro-
versy in any manner that might result
in an embarrassing situation for the
United States. Secretary Hay is pre-
pairing a note to the powers in which
the qualification of this government is
expressed for the course agreed upon
by them in settlement Of the pending
difficulties.
Must Apologize.
President Castro, only by apologize
ing to Great Britain and Germany
for the attacks made upon the for
eign legations at Caracas and agree
ing to certain conditions upon which
the powers insist, can pave the way
to have the embroglio referred to
The Hague arbitration tribunal for
settlement. Great Britain, Germany,
Italy, Venezuela itself, and the Uni
ted States all desire to have this
course pursued, and unless the South
American president displays an un-
compromising spirit the difficulty
which has involved the leading pow
ers of the world can certainly be set
tied amicably. The officials here re.
gard it as quite certain that Castro
will not show stubborn spirit when
he is made to realize that the powers
will not make any more concessions.
His apology and compliance with the
other conditions, which the state de.
partment refuses to discuss, is conf
IDENTIFY expected after little prelin-
mary show of resistance on the part
of President Castro. On the other
hand, however, it is quite possible
that the belligerent South American
will decline to apologize, as he may
hold that he has nothing to apollo
gize for. Castro may insist on this
point, and, after all, President Roose-
Welt, as the only way out of the diff
Guilty, would be called upon to arbi-
trate the question as to whether
Venezuela shall apologize to Germany
and Great Britain before the points
involved in the controversy are SUBJ
mitted to The Hague tribunal.
Allies Agree to The Hague.
Berlin, Dec. 27.-A semi-oficial note
published Friday says: AS in the case
of the Italian note, the British and Ger
man notes on Venezuela presented De-
cember 20 declares that if President
Roosevelt does not accept the post of
arbitrator, the powers would be pre-
pared, subject to certain reservations,
to submit the matter to The Hague
tribunal. .g
Opinion in London.
London, Dec. 27.-Except by the
opponents of the government who
view it as a virtual defeat and as
discrediting the ministry, the latest
been welcomed very lukewarmly.
Arbitration by President Roosevelt
had been anticipated as so desira BILE
an issue from difficult business that
his refusal, which is regarded as final,
has caused keen disappointment. 1t
is foreseen that even if satisfactory
conditions to the submission of the
disputes to The Hague court can be
arranged, this method will entail
endless and wcarisome details, with
no assurance that at the end Presi-
dent Castro still will be in power
or Venezuela in the mood to abide by
the decision of The Hague. In short,
that element of guarantee which
would have accompanied Roosevelt's
acceptance of the Office Of arbitrator
is now lacking. At the same time it
is readily admitted that from the
American point of view President
Roosevelt has acted wisely in declin-
ing to act. The foregoing represents
the general drift of newspaper COM
ment this morning.