The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-21
ROW OVER VENEZUELA CASE.
(tISED BY MACVEAGH'S SFLEC-
1JON AS AGENT At THE HAGUE.
,on.IIlock aiding Nations Indignant Be
cause They We're Not Consult d--1he
state Department Disclaims All Re
sponsibility for the AppOintm ent.

state department DtsCialm9 All NC
sponsbIlity for the appointment.
WASHINGTON, May 2o.-The State De-
par,ment has felt obliged to explain to the
representatives in Washington Of the nom
bcckading European nations having claims
against Venezuela that the United States
government was not responsible for the
selection of Wayne MacVeagh as the agent
of the Notwithstanding nations before The
Hague tribunal in the arbitration of the
question involved in the contention of Eng
land Germany and Italy that they are
entitled to have their claims paid by Venez-
uea before any other Government gets
penny
The so-called peace Powers OF Europe
have Indignantly asserted that they had
nothing to do with Mr.. Macveagh's selection
and were not even consulted in the matter
This and other reasons are given by them
for declining to become parties to the pro-
cos!ing before The Hague court. A merry
diplomatic row is on, which threatens to en-
larrass the arbitration proceedings
According to the explanations made by
the State Department to the irritated
diplomats, Mr.. MacVeag h was regarded
BY the Department as the selection Of
Venezuela, whose position in the arbitra-
ton is similar to that of the nations which
did not engage in the blockade. 1t was
the understanding of the Department,
according to this explanation, that the Eu-
ropean -blockading Powers had agreed
to accept Mr.. MacVeagh as their repre-
sentative at The Hague, and the Depart
ment therefore corcurred in this supposed
arrangement. The assertion now made
that the representatives Of the European
peace Powers were not consulted concern
ing the selection of Mr.. MacVeagh caused
establishment at the State Department
which has endeavored to ascertain how
the misunderstanding occurred.
The French. Belgian and Dutch govern
ments, or, rather, their representatives in
Washington, were particularly incensed over
ration Of The Hague protocols arranged
bv the British and Italian Ambassadors,
the German Minister and H. w, Bowen.
Venezuela's special envoy. They assert
that they did not see the protocols until they
we're presented to them by Mr.. Bowen, with
terms contained therein. They declare.
also, that it was then that they first knew
that Mr.. MacNeagh was expected to repre-
sent their governments. They maintain
that they have no personal objection TO
Mr.. MacVeagh, but deny the right of Mr..
Bowen or any body else to select him as their
agent without consultation with them.
From present prospects,, the, United
States. Mexico and Venezuela will appear
Jointly at The Hague in opposition to the
claim of England, Germany and Italy to
gum Holland, Spain and Sweden and
Norway, or some Of them, may appear
separately In opposition also to the British
German-Italian contention, but upon dlfler-
ent grounds, thus causing confusion, and,
it is held. weakening the attitude OF the
peace nations by presenting divided
front.
The State Department has also repudiated
responsibility for the publication at the
Government Printing Office Of the. blue
book containing the correspo;ndenee in 1t the
1fs s sstyes9
Venezuela, and Sir Michael H. Herbert.
the British Ambassador, Signor Mayor
DIES Planches, the Italian Ambassador
lister, and Count Quadt. German Charge
dAffaires. Mr.. Bowen, who is also the
United States Minister to Venezuela, pre-
pared the book and secured its publication
at the Government Printing Office.
When the blue book appeared this month.
from Washington, representatives OF the
hlOckading Powers expressed irritation
over the manner in which Mr.. Bowen had
inserted personal explanations in the form
Of footnotes. One OF these was regarded
by the diplomatic critics as particularly
Objectionable. 1t was attached to com.
munication from Mr.. Bowen TO Sir Michael
Herbert. accepting the conditions upon
which Great Britain would raise the block
ade Of Venezuelan ports and read as follows:
NoTE-I accented the British conditions
lance. or 70 obtain proof that she could not
get out without Germany's consent Count
Quadt informed Sir Michael n. Herbert and
as sn agreement had been made by their re-
objection to this and other footnotes
was made on the ground that their insertion
va contrary to practice, the rule beng that
diplomatic correspondence should speak
for itself and that personal explanations
or comments not seen by all the other
parties to the correspondence we're de-
cIdedly improper,
But the principal complaint Of the Eu;
ropean diplomats was that the United
States Government had apparently ap.,
proved the publication by having y printed
at the Government Printing Office. In
quiries brought out the reputation OF
responsibility by the State Department:
In fairness to Mr.. Bowen it should be said
Tat he obtained authority to have the
Venezuelan correspondence printed at the
Government Printing Office. and in fair
ness 10 the State Department it should be
said that it did not have the opportunity
Of reading the manuscript of the blue
book before publication. The Department
kas expressed regret that anything which
appeared in a volume bearing the imprint
OF United States Government Office should
lave given offence to representatives OF
foreign Governments,
Another annexation of Mr.. Bowen's was
that two documents contained in the blue
book prove that the German Government
wanted cash or a sufficient guaranty-not
both To this he added: 1T ultimately
demanded both, and both had to be given in
order to get the blockade raised
One her note caused irritation This
was attached to statement from Mr..
Bowen TO the allies explaining his objections
to giving them preferential treatment. 1t
read
This was dictated to Italian and British
Ambassadors and to the German Minister
late at night, after long discussion. They
took II down in writing, so as to cable IT 10
their respective Governments
The idea of being placed before the world
IN the position of amanuenses to the breezy
young American envoy was too much for
the dignity of European diplomats