Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-01-01
PRELlMlNARIEs MOVE SLOWLY
Preliminary Protocol Cannot Be Pre-.
pared For Several Days.

Washington. Dec. 2S.-There is now
in progress an active exchange OF
notes between the allied powers, Vene-
zuela and the United States, respect.
ing the method of submitting to arbi.
tration the issues which have arisen
between Venezuela and the allied
powers. The questions are being put
and the answers are forthcoming. but
1t is expected that the negotiations
are In, such shape that 1t would be
extremely injudicious and indiscreet
to make each phase public If there
really existed q desire to reach a
satisfactory settlement. 1t is explain.
ed at the state department that the
part of the United States government
just now 10 that of a good friend to
all, 1t has not Undertaken to draw up
protocols or impose limitations upon
the parties, but is combining Its office
of getting them together and keeping
them so. In this view 1t will not be
necessary for our government to pre-
scribe how the Monroe doctrine shall
or shall not figure In the protocols;
1t will Judge for itself by results how
our interests are affected and will not
indulge In premature or uncalled for
protests.
As to the terms of the arbitration
agreement, II is said that they are In
fair way to be speedily adjusted, but
nothing can be said of the details.
1t is presumed that the allies will
agree to terminate the blockade,
though no stipulation 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 II
begins to appear that. after all, Vene
znela will probably be represented by
one of her own people.
The weight of Official opinion here
this afternoon and evening was that
several days at leas. must elapse be
fore anything in the nature of a pre-.
liminary protocol can be made ready
for signature. German insistence up
on prepayment of 10 per cent of her
full claims before submitting her ease
to arbitration and perhaps President
Castro's resistance to meeting what
the allies regard 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 1t is further hoped tuat
some arrangement will be made in the
preliminary protocol for the raising
of the blockade. though 1t is intimated
that the allied ships will be kept ready
to renew 1t in case of any default ON
the part of Venezuela In her o.. ga
lions.
Washington having been the pivot
about which all the negotiations have
turned up to this point. 1t is surmiseo
that 1t may also be the scene Of the
final act In the shape of the signature
OF the preliminary protocol, either BY
the resident representatives here o.
the powers interested. or by specia
agents sent TO this neutral ground fol-
the purpose.
An erroneous idea has obtained ir
some quarters as to the functions OF
the president and Secretary Hay In
this matter, and they have been rep.
resented as endeavoring to personally
conduct the negotiations as drawing
up protocols and generally as taking
the leading part in all that Is going on.
II Is pointed out at the state depart.
ment that while ordinarily a misun.
derstand on this point would be trif.
ling. it happens in the present case
that reports of such activity on the
part of the United States after the
president has expressly declined to
assume the duties OF arbitrator. would
surely be Ill received in Europe and
might perhaps lead to some backward
steps that would be matter of regret
to this government which earnestly
desires to have the parties reach an
honorable settlement OF their differ
ancas