The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-02-01
TO THE HAGUE COURT
Ministry Bowen May Have to Refer
lItr NattrG There. J
POSITION OF FRANCE.
It IL yhOu@Hs That Government Has
Slrcady Sounded United States
sss Learn How Much There s
H. in Common.

washington, Gan. 3f.--T Mr., Bowen
fannot adjust kenezuelas claims with
the allies the purpose is to have The
Hague arbitration tribunal pass on
them Bus iuse how the Venezuelan
question is 60 get before The Hague
tribunal in event Of BOwenS failure
20 adjust the differences is not quite 4
olear. It is inconceivable to the adj
ADMINISTRATION that there should be re-3l
newal of hostilties on the Venezuelan
coast. and more quitting on screws,
no matter how MI BoWen's work shall
turn out so. The Hague tribunal comes Y
naturally into sight as port Of safety.5
But to place a case before the tribunal
requires the laying down Of certain
basic propositions of matters to be ar-H
bitrated and agreement on the limita-
tions to be placed on the arbitration.
and it is difficult to conjecture how
all hands can be brought together on
the complex and difficult propositions
involved, in an arbitration protocol.
For instance, one point which uu-
doubtedly would be very difficult to
agree on would be the results of the
present blockade and whether Or not
Venezuela might properly regard the
damages inflicted on her as offsets II
the claims of the powers. Mr.. Bowen,
already looking ahead, has prepared
long list of such injuries inflicted
upon Venezuela, and this list grows
with every days CONTINUANCE of the
blockade. but from the tone of the
representatives of the allies it is quite
certain they would resist to the ut
most the presentations of any such
offsets. H.
When this step is taken 1t is ex-
pected that France will make represen-
tations at once to London, Berlin and
Rome protesting against any interfer-
ence with previous arran gements she
has made with Venezuela for the set
Element of claims. France may be
Joined in this protest by the other
claimant nations.
There is reason to believe that the
French government already has
sounded the United States government
to learn how much in common there
may be between their interests in
Venezuela. 1t is said that there is d
strong resemblance between the claims
of the two nations; perhaps enough
to link them together in resistance
to any policy on the part of the al
lies which would tend to destroy or
impair those interests.
For instance. the United States
through a regular tribunal. and Vene-
Zuelan claim commission, has secured
judgment against Venezuela for con-.
siderable sum of money which Vene-
zuela has been paying in installments.
Recently these payments have been
delayed. and as the money comes In
large part from the Venezuelan GUS
toms, the United States may have very
good legal right to protest against any
conduct on the part Of the allies which
will prevent its lebtor from meeting
It's obligations to the United States.
France by treaty ana negotiations has
secured what amounts to a Judgment
against Venezuela and she claims that
her debtor must not be destroyed or
Venezuela means of meeting her pay
ments to France impaired. as will be
the case by the adoption of the prefer
entail treatment demanded by the al
lies.