Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-08

creek w1..-l vtne jurisdiction Of the
United States.
! The result was satisfactory in every
way. 1t is Of great material advantage
to our people in the far northwest. 1t
has removed from the field of discus
sion and possible danger question lia-
BILE to become more acutely accumulated
with each passing year. Finally 1T las
furnished signal proof Of the fairness
and good will with which two friendly
nations can approach and determine
issues involving national sovereignty
and by their nature incapable of sub
mission to a third power for adjudica-
ton.
The award is self executing on the
vital points. To make it effective as
regards the others it only remains for
the two governments to appoint each
on its own behalf one or more scien-
tifc experts. who shall with all con-
yenient speed proceed together to lay
down the boundary line in accordance
with the decision of the majority Of
the tribunal. I recommend that the
congress make adequate provision for
the appointment compensation and ex-
penses of the members to serve on this
Joint boundary commission on the part
Of the United States.
Claims Against Venezuela.
1t will be remembered that during
the second session of the last congress
Great Britain, Germany and Italy
formed an alliance for the purpose Of
blockading the ports of Venezuela and
using such other means of pressure as
would secure settlement of claims
due, as they alleged, to certain Of their
subjects. Their employment Of force
for the collection of these claims was
terminated by an agreement brought
about through the offices Of the diplo-
matte representatives of the United
States at Caracas and the government
at Washington, thereby ending stu
alton which was bound to cause in
creasng friction and which jeoparded
the peace of the continent. Under this
agreement Venezuela agreed to set
apart certain percentage of the GUS
toms receipts of two of her ports to be
applied to the payment Of whatever OBJ
legations might be ascertained by
mixed commissions appointed for that
purpose to be due from her not only to
the three powers already mentioned,
whose proceedings against her had re-
suited in a state of war, but 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
ascertained to be due to their citizens
by such mixed commissions should be
accorded payment in full before any
thing was paid upon the claims of any
of the so called peace powers. Vene-
Zuela, on the other hand insisted that
all her creditors should be paid upon
basis of exact equality. During the eff
forts to adjust this dispute it was sug-
ny thC pOWSlS Ill lhlCASoI NAaI IL
should be referred to me for decision.
but l was clearly of the opinion that
far wiser course would be to submit
the question to the permanent court Of
arbitration at The Hague. 1t seemed to
me to offer an admirable opportunity to
advance the practice of the peaceful
settlement of disputes between nations
and to secure for The Hague tribunal
memorable increase of its practical i'm
portance. The nations interested in the
controversy were so numerous and in
many instances so powerful as to make
it evident that benefccnt results would
follow from their appearance at the
same time before the bar Of that august
tribunal Of peace.
Our hopes in that regard have been
realized. Russia and Austria are rep
resented in the persons of the learned
and distinguished jurists who compose
the tribunal, while Great Britain, Ger
many. France. Spain, Italy, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway,
Mexico, the United States and Venezu-
ella are represented by their respective
agents and counsel. Such an imposing
concourse of nations presenting their
arguments to and invoking the decision
of that high court of international JUS
tice and international peace can hardly
fail to secure like submission of many
future controversies. The nations now
appearing there will find it far easier
to appear there a second time, while no
nation can imagine its just pride will
be lessened by following the example
now presented. This triumph of the
principle of international arbitration is
subject of warm congratulation and
offers a happy augury for the peace Of
the world.
international Arbitration.
There seems good ground for the be-
lief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of a senti-
ment which will permit gradual SUBJ
stituHon of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of dis
putes. 1t is not pretended that as vet
we are near a position in which it will
be possible wholly to prevent war or
4 ErA