The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-03
ASToRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
VENEZUELA AGAIN.

property stolen by foreignersogytbarh
money and property stolen from foreigners by that
government were to be arbitrated by special inter-
national commissioners and the question of preferen
tia treatment of the blockadng powers was sent to
The Hague, says the Call The international commits
sioners have finished their work and made their
awards, and at The Hague it was decided that the
blockadng powers had preferential rights
To all this Venezuela was bound by treaty. She had
no right to expect other results than those that were
reached by arbitration. She cannot claim that racial
prejudice affected the result for the Latin races were
represented in the arbitration commissioners. The
Spanish minister to Caracas was chosen to consider
the Mexican claims, and when he made proper
award he was assaled by personal abuse by the news
papers and was insuted in the street. The time has
come now for Castro to observe his international OBJ
legations, and begin paying the awards in the order
decided upon at The Hague. Of course he is not
doing it. Payday is abhorred by Latin-America,
with some exceptions. "The Monkey of the Andees F"
makes treaties only to violate them His disregard of
obligations raises again the question Of the sucency
of arbitration if there be no means of enforcing its
payments
The Hague is a court without sheriff. Its find
ings are the highest judicial DEGREES known to the
world but they are worthless if they can not become
judicial fnalities by enforcement The Hague con-
vention needs revision in this respect 1t should be
made to provide that when nation found in de-
fault by the court decree refuses negects to keep
faith it shall be the lawful right of the nation suf
ferng by that breach of faith to tax entire posses
sion of the revenue external and internal of the de-
gfault and administer it until the collections pay the
claim and the cost of administration. That will give
the court actual power and vitality and will at the
same time lessen the number of that go to it.
As long as the convention has no provision for en-
forcing decree nations like Venezuela are very will
ing to 90 to it. All international courts are proec
tion Of the principle Of ou rordnary judicial courts
into the affairs of nations. But judicial courts
command respect because their judgments be en-
forced If it were otherwise their dOckets would be
overcrowded, for every litigant would be entirely
willing to get into court that could not enforce its
judgments. Otherwise many litigants willing to
In the situation created by CaStros disregard of
the awards and of The Hague decision it is said that
Germany proposes another naval demonstration and
she will doubtless be joined by the other preferential
powers. This means more turmoil in the Monroe hem
sphere and another strain in our relationship with
Europe. Castro is entirely capable of causing a
most serious condition, that will go far beyond a
!. L. /. 4 IL. e
military force and the occupation Of his capital
well as the blockading of his seaports. His conduct
may be such that will have to interfere to prevent
the conflict taking on the nature of conquest The
fellow is entirely capable Of going to such lengths
as to put the United States in very difficult position
Were he capable of reasoning or had he any genuine
patriotism and sense of responsibility, he would
keep his treaty pledges and extricate his country
from the serious position in which it has been placed
by his blunders and crimes.
One recent occurrence has disclosed his reckless
ness and ingratitude. The American minister, Bow.
en-, went to the verge of diplomatic propriety in
standing by Venezuela. When le appeared at The
Hague as representative of Ca tro his statements
in favor of Venezuela were irritating to the Euro
pean powers concerned, and we commented on then
at the time as being far more extreme than his po
sition and duty required Not only in Europe but
in Washington Mr.. Bowen pursued his course
causing considerable embarrassment to our state de
partment If Castro were a normal person and Vene
zuela civilized country the friendly attitude of Mir
ister Bowen would be requitted at least by decent
personal treatment But instead of this Castro Off