The San Francisco call., 1903-01-31
PERHAPS A HAGUE CASE.

"HE benefit OF the example set by the Unlted
States and Mexico, in taking the first case to
the Hague jury may soon appear in the appeal
OF Venezuela and the powers to the same tribunal.
The other Governments whose nationals have sui
ered from the rapacity of Venezuela INSIST that IN
anv adjustment made by Minister Bowen they must
have footing of equality with the concerted powers
which made the blockade. To this the three block
aiding powers object, claiming that they should be
treated as preferred creditors because they have been
at the expense of the blockade to which Venezuela
disposition to settle al all is due From their stand
point this preferential claim has it element OF
right and Justice On the other hand the powers
stand in certain sense for the peace OF the future
bv asking that the entire Venezuelan question be dis
posed OF. leaving nothing to serve as the cause OF
future friction 1t be admitted that Venezuela
has her fate uleasuraby in her hands. If she
guarantee the payment OF awards covering all the
claims so that the verdict has the Of general
judgment TO be lqudated and then prepare finance
the whole judgment, as she easily do, the need
OF preference will disappear.
In default OF some such arrangement there is but
one recourse. and that is to The Hague The powers
can submit to that jury their rival claims of prefer
ence and equality If the tribunal decide that the
three allies shall be preferred creditors, and that its
judgment in favor OF other claimants is in the nature
OF second mortgage the revenues of Venezuela,
all must submit to that decision. II on the other
hand the decision sustain the equality of all claimants
they must accept it.
The present aspect of the case brings it clearly
within the jurisdiction of The Hague tribunal, since
it takes the form of dispute between England
Germany and Italy on one side and France and other
claimants on the other
The preamble to, the treaty formulated by the
peace conference to establish The Hague court re-
cites that: Animated with strong desire TO come
to an agreement for the maintenance OF general
peace; resolved to promote with all their ability the
friendly settlement OF international disputes; recog
nizing the solidarity which unites the members of
the society OF the civilized nations; wishing to
tend the empire OF law and to strengthen the appre
citation of international justice; convinced that the
institution OF permanent court OF arbitration &C
cessibe to ALL in the midst OF the independent powers
will prove efhcacious in bringing about this result
with the object of preventing far possible re-
course TO force in the relations between states the
sgnatory powers agree employ all their efforts to
bring about by pacific means the solution of inter
national differences"
Then follow the provisions of the treaty for the
constitution of The Hague The United States
added the proviso that; Nothing contained in this
United States of America depart from its ira
ditional policy of intruding upon interfering with
or entangng itself in the political questions or
policy international administration Of any foreign
state shall anything contained in said convention
be construed to imply REIMBURSEMENT by the United
States Of its traditional attitude toward purely Amer-
can questions
This safeguarded the Monroe doctrine. Lord Sails
bury, in behalf OF England. said OF the treaty: In
the brief space OF months great international
work has been accomplished, fraught with the high
est promise in the advancement OF civilization and
the good OF mankind. That work consists in the
production of most benehcent codes, destined to
preserve the blessings Of peace and lessen the
calamities OF war"
While the first nations to enter the doors OF The
Hague court and leave it, submissive to its judgment,
were OF the western hemisphere the twenty sgnator-
les to the treaty under equal obligation to use
the benehcent il provides 1t may be said that
the issues presented by the Venezuela case are in
tricate and difficult but the court is intended for just
such issues, and the powers in dispute among
themselves being all sgnatories, will command the
respect OF the world if in the last they go the
court they helped to create