The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-23
HAGUE TRIBUNAL
FILES ITS fD|CT
Washington viii Abide by 1t
Though Believing 1t Makes
for Violence.

THE HAGUE, Feb. 22.-The arbitration
tribunal, which has been considering the
claims of the bleckading powers for pref
erential treatment of their claims against
Venezuela, has decided unanimously that
the three blockading powers, Great Brit
ain, Germany and Italy, have the right to
a preference of 80 per cent of the customs
duties at Guayara and Puerto CabeIlo, the
ItigantS to pay their own costs in the
procedure and divide equally the costs of
the tribunal. The United States is COM
misSioned to carry out the decision of the
tribunal as to costs within three months.
The tribunal points out that it has been
guided by international law and the
equity of the case and that the protocols
signed at Washington since Feb. Is, 1908,
and particularly the protocol of May q,
whereof the obligatory nature cannot be
doubtful, form the legal basis Of it's SEN
tence; that the tribunal is not competent
to question the jurisdiction Of the mixed
commissions at Caracas, nor to judge of
the blockading powers, nor to decide if
the three blockading powers exhausted all
pacific means to prevent necessity for en-
ploying force. The tribunal decides that
it is only in a position to certify that
since 1901 Venezuela refused arbitration,
proposed on several occasions by Ger
many and Great Britain; that after the
war no formal treaty of peace was con-
cluded; that the operations of the block
aders were stopped before they had re-
ceived satisfaction for all their claims,
and further, that the question of the
preferential treatment was submitted to
arbitration The tribunal declares that it
found and recognized in these facts
precious evidence in favor of the great
principle of arbitration in all phases of
international conflict.
President Muravieff (the Russian min
lister of justice) declared that the findings
had been reached after g. most minute and
impartial investigation. Like all human
acts, he added the decision was suScepti-
BILE to criticism, but now it was made,
everyone should accept it. The arbitra-
ton, begun in times of peace, had ended
amid the sinister acts of war, which was
a terrible obstacle in the path of light
and progress. In spite Of all good will,
no one was secure against an expected
hostile attack. A nation was obliged to
accept a war when the legitimate defense
of honor and liberty was involved. The
just Providence which ruled over battles
will distinguish between right and TN
founded pretensions. At the end of this
war between a European and an Asiatic
people the right will shine out afresh.
The president concluded with saying that
The Hague arbitration tribunal remains
always the rampant of justice, truth and
reason and the sublime hope of the flu
ture.
Bad Precedent
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. pa
prominent official of the state department
said that, while the department regretted
exceedingly the precedent which The
Hague tribunal had made in this case,
there was nothing for the United States
to do but accept the result philosophicaIly
as binding international laws. The mere
question of time when the United States
shall receive from Venezuela the amount
Of the awards In our favor was the small
est consideration.
What the government disliked was to
admit the principle that by a mere show
of naval force a. creditor nation can Sc
cure precedence in the payment of debt
over another nation which does not exer-
else such force. 1t Is regarded as a
premium on violence and as tending to
discourage nations which are disposed to
settle their claims by peaceful methods Of
diplomacy. The Venezuelan government,
while the principal party nominalIy 10 the
proceedings before The Hague tribunal,
was really rather Indifferent as to which
power should be paid first, recognizing the
fact that they must all be paid in some
ordor