Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-01-02
ASA FRIEND OF ALL
THE PRESIDENT IS HELPING ALONG
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.


/ Washington, Dec. 31.-There i
now in progress an active exchange OF
notes between the allied powers,
Venezuela and the United States. re.
/ specting the method of submitting to
arbitration the issues which have
arisen between Venezuela and the
allies. The weight of official opinion
here this afternoon was that several
| days at least must elapse before any
| thing in the nature of a preliminary
protocol can be made ready for sig.
| nature. German insistence upon a
prepayment of 10 per cent of her full
| claims before submitting her case to
arbitration, and perhaps President
Castro's resistance to meeting what
| the allies claim as the obligations of
honor are believed to be now the
sticking points. But it is hoped that
these can be passed within the next few
days, and it is further hoped that
some arrangement will be made in the
preliminary protocol for the raising
OF the blockade, though it is intimat-
ed that the allies ships will be kept
ready to renew it in case of any de-
fault on the part of Venezuela in her
obligations.
washington having been the pivot
about which all the negotiations have
turned up to this point, it is surmised
that it may also be the scene of the
final act in the shape of the signature
OF the protocol, either by the resident
representatives here of the powers in
terested or by special agents sent to
this neutral ground for the purpose.
An erroneous idea obtained in some
quarters as to the functions of the
President and Secretary Hay in this
matter, and they have been represent
ed as endeavoring personally to con-
duct the negotiations, as drawing up
protocols and generally taking
leading part in all that is going on. 1t
s pointed out at the State Department
that, while ordinarily a misunder-
standing on this point would be trif-
ing, it happens in the present case
that reports of such activity on the
part of the United States officials
after the President had expressly de-
elined to assume the duties of arbitra-
ton would surely be i'll received in
Europe and might perhaps lead to
some backward steps that would be
matter of regret to the Government,
which earnestly desires to have the
parties reach. an honorable settle
mont OF their differences.
1t is explained at the State Depart
ment that the part of the United State
United States Government just now
is that Of ''good friend" to all parties:
that it is not undertaking to draw up
protocols or impose limitations upon
the parties, but it is confining it's
Offices to getting them together and
keeping them so. In this view it will
not be necessary Tor our Government
to prescribe how the Monroe Doctrine
shall or shall not figure in the proto-
coils; it will judge for itself by results
how our interests are affected, and
will hot indulge in premature or un-
called-for protests.
AS for the terms of the arbitration,
it is stated that they are in a fair way
speedily to- be adjusted, but nothing
can be said of the details. 1t is pre-
sumed that the allies will agree to
terminate the blockade, though no
has yet been entered into
on that point. Nothing has been
heard recently of the part to be taken
by United States Minister Bowen in
the final settlement, and it begins to
appear that, after all, Venezuela will
probably be represented by one of her
own people.