The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-07
VEN EzuELA AFFAIR.
Reference of Matter to Court Of Arbi-
tration Reviewed.

VEN IL UELA AExA16
Reference of Matter to Court Of Arbi-
tration Reviewed.
It will be remembered that during the
second session of the last congress Great
Britain, Germany, and Italy formed an
alliance for the purpose of blockadlng
the ports of Venezuela and using Sucn
other means Of pressure as would secure
a settlement of claims due, as they al
legged, 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 diplomatic representatives
of the United States at Caracas and
the government at Washington, thereby
ending situation which was bound 10
cause increasing friction, ana Wnlcn
jeoparded the peace of the continent;
Under this agreement Venezuela agreed
to set apart a certain percentage of the
customs receipts of two OF her ports
to be applied to the payment OF what
ever obligations might be ascertalned
by mixed commissions appointed Tor
that purpose to be due from her, not
only to the three powers already men
toned, whose proceedings against her
had resulted in a state of war, but also
GUM, the Netherlands. Sweden and
Norway, and Mexico, who had not en-
ployed 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 shoulo De
accorded payment in full peIofe 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 a
basis of exact equality. During the ef-
forts to adjust this dispute 1t was SuS-
Tod I1xygt he T1nxN tors interest
should be referred to me for decision,
but was clearly of the opinion that
far wiser course would be to submlL
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 peaeefui
settlement of disputes between nations
and to secure for The Hague tribunal
a memorable increase of it's practical
Importance. The nations interested IN
the controversy were so numerous ana
in many instances so powerful as TO
make it evident that beneflcent results
would follow from their appearance at
the same time before the bar or that
august tribunal of peace
Hopes Realized.
Our hopes in that regard have been
realized Russia and Austria are rep
resented in the persons of the learned
and distinguished juriStS VINO compose
the tribunal, while Great Britain, Ger
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway,
Mexico, the United States, and Ve11e-
zuela are represented by their respec-
tive agents and counsel. Such an I'M
posing concourse of nations presenting
their arguments to and invoking the
decision of that high court of interna-
tional justice and international peace
can hardly fail to secure like sub
mission of many future controversies.
The nations now appearing there will
there
second time while no nation can i'm
agine its just pride will be lessened
by following the example now present.
ed This triumph of the principle of
of warm congratulation and offers
happy augury for the peace of the
world
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 a gradual sub
stitution of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of
disputes. 1t lis not pretended that as
yet we are near a position in which it
will be possible wholly to prevent war,
or that just regard for national in
terest and honor will in all cases per-
init of the settlement of international
disputes by arbitration; but by a mix
ture of prudence and firmness with
wisdom we think it is possible to do
away with much of the provocation
many cases to substitute some other
and more rational method for the set
tlement of disputes. The Hague court
offers so good an example of what can
be done in the direction of such settle
menr that it should be encouraged in
every way.
Waste of War;
Further steps should be taken. In
President McKinley's annual message
of December 8, 1898, he made the fol-
lowing recommendation:
THE experiences of the last year
bring forcibly home to us a sense of
the burdens and the waste of war We
desire, in common with most civilized
nations, to reduce to the lowest posi-
BILE point the damage sustained in time
of war by peaceable trade and COM
merce. 1t is true we may suffer in
such cases less than other communities,
but all nations are damaged more or
less by the state of uneasiness and ap-
prehension into which an outbreak of
hostilities throws the entire commercial
world. 1t should be our object, there
fore, to minimize, so far as practicable,
this inevitable loss and disturbance.
This purpose can probably best be ac-
comp1ished by an international agree
ment to regard all private property at
sea as exempt from capture or destruc-
ton by the forces of belligerent powers.
The United States government has for
benefcent principle, and is now in a
position to recommend it to other pow
ers without the imputatfon of selfish
motives. I therefore suggest for your
consideration that the executive be au-
thorized to correspond with the govern
rnents of the principal maritime powers
with a view of Incorporating into the
permanent law of civilized nations the
principle of the exemption of all pri-
waite property at sea, not contraband of
war, from capture or destruction by
belligerent powers"
I cordially renew this recommended
ton.
The supreme court, speaking on De-
Icember IL, 1899, through Peckham, j.,
said:
1T is, we think, historically accurate
to say that this government has always
been, in its views, among the most adj
lvanced of the governments OF the world
in favor of mitigating, as to all non