The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-06
Bowen and the Allies.

ing Mr.. Bowen, .Venezuela's representa-
tive, with whom they have to deal, either
pliable or plastic, and so, yesterday, In
a gusty mood, they declared they would
have no more to do with Bowen, and it
is reported that they are DESTROYS Of hav-
ing President Roosevelt act as arbitra-
tor Of the demand for preferential treat
ment and everything else.
The president has already declined to
perform this service. and the country
has commended his determine ton. 1t is
to be hoped that he will not yield to an
other campaign Of importantly. Both
Germany and Great Britain have an idea
that they will fare better under the judg-
ment Of the president than they will be-
Hague. Secretly they think that by
involving our government as a deter
mining power, in the matter, they will
be able to make it responsible for the
payment in Venezuela's behalf of some
of the exaggerated claims, like that of
Germany based on the guarantee of vene-
zuela for the construction Of the Caracas
& Valentia railway by German capital
lists, who enormously inflated the con-.
struction account. Public sentiment in
this country is opposed to the PROPOSE
ton that President Roosevelt shall act
as arbiter. If the allies do not choose
to accept Venezuela's proposals through
it's accredited agent, Mr.. Bowen, they
will, if they refer the matter to an ar
bitter Of their own choosing and ignore
the assent Of Venezuela, be committing
an act of international discourtesy which
will besmirch them before the world
Our government will insist upon its
interest in this matter and insure the
safety of that interest. Germany, Great
Britain and Italy consented in Deem
Der to submit to arbitration the questions
in dispute between them and Venezuela,
and, at the time, the press of this country
heartily commended such consent as
triumph for the cause of international
amity. But these powers have 1nterposed
objections to every proposition for arbi-
| tration. Constructively, indeed, they
agreed to reference to the international
tribunal at The Hague, but they have
been doing everything they could to
avoid going before that tribunal, although
Mr.. Bowen forcibly reminded them of the
existence Of such court only last Mon
| day. .#'
While they are furiously waving their
claims over their heads they continue
| the blockade, which is paralyzing bust
! ness in Venezuela, where Castro is doing
his part in minimizing the republics re-
| merchants, whose resources have been al
ready greatly attenuated by the pro-
| tracted revolution against Castro. Great
Britain is in bad way, for, at home,
the public are abusing the ministry with
out mercy for the alliance with Germany,
and over in Canada there is growing
hostility on the part of the press, the
fear being expressed that the attitude
of unfriendliness toward the United
States shown by the British government
| in the Venezuelan matter will deepen the
American animosity toward the Alaskan
| treaty, which commits the boundary case
for adjustment to a commission COM
posed of three commissioners on each
side, who are not likely to agree upon the
| transfer to Canada of an important part
| of our seacoast containing ports and
| wharves and warehouses and a railway
terminal The senate indeed may refuse
to ratify the Alaskan treaty, and it is
pretty certain that Great Britain and
Germany will be compelled to acquiesce,
as to the Venezuelan matter, very much
in a way acceptable to the United States