Abilene weekly reflector., 1903-01-01
NOT As THEY WISHED
Essiand Wanted Arbitration BY
Roosevelt in vsnszueIa.
IHE HAGUE TRIBUNAL UNPOPULAR.
rear Thas arsshod WIN Entan Endless and
wearIsoms "Details with No Assurances
That nt the End President Castro
Will Abide by Decision.


opponents Of the government, who
view it as virtual defeat and as dis
crediting the ministry, the latest
phase Of the Venezuelan trouble has
been welcomed very luke-warmly.
Arbitration by President Roosevelt
had been anticipated as so desirable
an issue from difficult business
that his refusal, which is regarded
as final, has caused keen disappoint-
msnt. II is foreseen that even II
satisfactory conditions to the sub
mission OF the disputes to The Hague
court can be arranged, this method
will entail endless and wearisome
details with no assurance that at the
end President 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 Presi-
dent Roosevelt's acceptance OF the
Office OF, arbitrator is now lacking.
AT the same time II Is readily ad-
mitted that from the American point
Of view President Roosevelt has act
ed wisely in declining to act
The foregoing represents the gen.
eral drift of newspaper comment this
morning. The only paper which real
" welcomes the decision to refer the
Venezuelan matter to The Hague is
the radical Daily News, which sees
chance of making arbitration once
more a reputable theory, paying
tribute to the GOODNESS Of President
Roosevelt and the correct attitude
Of the United States during this
"sorry business" the Daily News
says:
"The Venezuelan crisis has done
much to enhance Mr.. Roosevelt's rep
utation and to bring home to English
men the essential friendliness OF the
American people"
The Daily Mail in violent attack
upon the government says:
Thus ends perhaps the most inglo-
rious episode in which Great Britain
has engaged in recent years."
Coal Contraband of War;
La Guaira, Dec. 27.-The Swedish
bark Framnas, from Cardiff with 476
tons of coal for the La Guaira-C Cara
cas- railroad, British concern, ar
rived off this port yesterday and was
ordered to remain outside the block
ade line. To-day orders were con-
veyed to the captain Of the bark to
leave; this step was taken because
the coal was considered contraband
Of war. The vessel was not seized, as
she left Cardiff before the trouble
with Venezuela commenced. The
captain Of the Framnas is awaiting
orders from his consignees.
The Dutch consul here has asked
for and obtained the permission OF
the commander of the British cruiser
! Tribune to send schooner to Los
Roques, group Of small islands
about 1870 miles north OF here, where
the charcoal burners who trade with
La Guaira are at present without pro
visions or water, their sloops having
been seized by the blockaders. The
schooner must carry a flag or truce
/ Willemstad, Curacao, Dec. 29.-Ths
Venezuelan revolutionists have re.
sumed active hostilities against Presi.
dent Castro. There occurred yester-
day q lively engagement between 1,20t
reyolutionists under Gen. Riera and
government forces at Cauyarao, in
the vicinity Of Coro. Details Of the
engagement are lacking, but it is
known here that the revolutionists
had artillery. The government forces
were commanded by Gen. Refereno
Castillo. Gen. Riera retained his po-
Hition.
The armistice between the govern
ment and the revolutionists has just
expired.
Gen. zolio Vidal and five other lead
ing supporters of Gen. Mgtos, who
had sought refuge here, have left
the islAnd of Curacao in Q sailboat
which took them in the direction Of
Cumarebo, near Coro, on the Venez-
uelan coast. The departure Of these
men is taken as proof that the revolt
against President Castro is again &C.
tive. . s,lt H. trl i
vssesueia WIN Pay al.
Caracas, Dec. eo.-United States
Minister Bowen and Lopez Baralt
Venezuelan minister Of foreign af-
fairs, held long conference last
night. Mr.. Bowen, obeying instruc-
tons from Washington, conveyed tc
Senor Baralt Roosevelt's refusal tc
act as arbitrator in the Venezuelan
difficulty. He recommended that the
matter be taken to the international
peace court at The Hague, which had
been expressly organized to consider
questions in which the honor Of q
country or the disposition Of terri
tory were not concerned. He sug
gested the organization Of commis'
sion 70 ait in Washington, the allied
II ..--~-. 4. l.. s.nr.~n4,fa1 ~ fhfr