Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-01

plCoCuCC OF Id dClA q III ~ AAANON
States gunboat Marietta will leave to-
day for Willemstad, Curacao, where
she vii remain subject to call from
Minister Bowen.
President Congratulated.
Paris, Dec. 28.-Baron Won D'Estour-
nelles De Constant, the French deputy
who was one of the delegates from
France to the international peace con
ference, and who is a member OF The
Hague tribunal, has written a strong
congratuIatory letter to President
Roosevelt on the submission of the
Venezuelan arbitration in The Hague
court The letter expresses the view
widely prevailing in official and diplo-
matte circles here that the American
course Will not only adjust the imme-
date issue, but also saves The Hague
tribunal from practical extinction. The
baron says:
"A great number of Frenchmen and
other Europeans are happy to join
with me in expressing to you their
gratitude for the generous, unyielding
firmness you have displayed in sup
port of international justice. Europe
is constantly speaking of American
competition, which has it's material
advantages in stimulating our ener-
gies; but you have inaugurated
moral competition more effective than
5o1
the governments of their duty, point
ing out amidst the difficulties result
ing from the transformation of the
globe that the court of arbitration
offered the governments its resources
and the jurisdiction instituted by all
and that it was always ready. This
jurisdiction has been boycotted. By
silent understanding the governments
thought to abandon The Hague tri-
bunal. On the morrow of it's official
creation it was about to perish
i'll will, when you came to
protest against the attempt, which
was threatening the liberties of the
world.
ITO two republics of the new world,
the United States and Mexico, belongs
the honor of opening in the face Of
passive Europe the gates of The
Hague tribunal. This first lesson
ought to have been sufficient, but it
was humiliating to find recently that
not a single authorized voice was
raised to remind the powers of their
duty, plainly assumed under Article
II, only three years ago. The initia
tive of the United States compared
with the paralysis Of Europe is a sign
of the times which European must
have the courage to recognize. Honor
to your government, which has under
stood that amidst the general Austen
ton some one had to awaken others
from their lethargy and lead them for
ward in the way of justice and prog
ress."
Castro Responsible.
Colon, Dec 2S-The Conservation of
Barranquilla attributes President Cas-
tro's present trouble in large meas
ure to his interference in Colombias
civil war, which caused misery and
great loss of life and money.
Notwithstanding this circumstance,
continues Conservation, the phases of
Venezuela's conflict with Great Britain
and Germany are being watched with
keenest interest, for Colombia's SYM
pathy is entirely on the side of her sis
ter republic, who, all Latin-America
hopes, will emerge honorably, though
surely crushed, from the present di-
lemma.
Has 3oWens Confidence.
Berlin, Dec. 2S.-The Lokal Anzie-
gers Caracas correspondent says:
''Presluent Castro is one of the few
Venezuelans who do not distrust the
Yankees. Minister Bowen has lis
confidence fully.
German wholesale merchants
would regret arbitration if it leads to
American financial control instead of
international. Some of them have de-
clared emphatically that if American
control is established it would be bet
ter to transfer their business rela-
tons forthwith from Hamburg to
New York.
Castro plans confscating the prop
erty of British German and Italian
subjects whenever the blockade ex-
hausts his recources
Foreign office officials here decline
to indicate what Germany will do re-
garding Castro's reported demand
that the powers raise the blockade and
restore the Venezuelan fleet before
Venezuela will accept the Hague arbi-
tration. The correspondent of the
Associated Press is informed authori-
tatively that it was at Germany's sug-
geStion that President Roosevelt was
invited to arbitrate the Venezuelan
dispute, with The Hague as an alter
native If the president refused.
Will Be Some Delay.
Washington, Dec. 2S-The weight of
official opinion here is that several
days at least must elapse before any,
thing in the nature of a preliminary
protocol can be made ready for the
signature of the parties to the arbitra
ton in the Venezuelan affair. German
1nslstence upon the payment Of 10 pei
cent. Of her full claims before submit
ting the case to arbitration and per
haps Castro's resistance to meeting
what the allies regard as obligation:
of honor are believed to be now tn,
sticking points. But it is hoped thes,
can be tassed within the next few
days and it is further hoped some al
rangement can be made in a preIimin
airy protocol for the raising of tn