Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-19
American Interests Guarded.

'On the other hand, American interests
have certainly been most efficiently guard
ed in this embroglio. In the first place, our
government has had the advantage of AS
sistant Secretary of State LOOMS Intimate
knowledge and long experience with Vene-
zuelan affairs, Mr.. LOOMS having been
United States minister at Caracas for many
years and during very critical period
Then again Minister Bowen rendered Ven
ezuela most important services in her hour
of need, while the unfailing tact and con-
spicuous ability subsequently shown our
ing Mr.. BoWen's absence from Venezuela
by the charge d'afaires of the United
States at Caracas Mr.. w. w. Russell, and
finally the remarkably high plane on which
United States Commissioner Bainbrldse
conducted the delicate task intrusted to him
in the settlement of the important and
complicated claims submitted to the COM
mission for arbitration have all tended to
demonstrate the absolute good faith of the
government of the United States, and thus
to create an atmosphere extremely friendly
to all things American. which ought to re-
dound to the lasting benefit of American
commerce and capital.
When asked regarding the work of the
Venezuelan claims commission Mr.. Dodge
said:
The Arbitration Commissions.
"Of the eleven arbitration commissions
constituted under the protocols of Wash
III gton, negotiated in February last by
United States Minister Bowen as represent
alive of Venezuela, with the so-called
blockadng powers, England, Germany and
Italy, and the peaceful powers, France,
Belgium Holland Sweden and Norway,
Spain. Mexico and the United States, and
which began their sittings in Caracas, the
capital of Venezuela, on June 1 last, the
American commission is the last but one
Ghe Italan) to finish its work.
1srTbe members of the American commas
sion were: DIR. Harry Barge, former gov
error of the West Indian Island of Curacao,
named as umpire by the Queen of Holland,
Mr. W. Z. cambridge, commissioner on the
part of the United States: DR.. j. de ]. Paul,
later replaced by DIR. Carlos T. Grisanti
commissioners on the part of Venezuela:
Mr. Robert c. Morris, agent for the United
States: DR.. E. Arroyo Barejo, agent for
Venezuela: Don Juan Badron UZtariz, later
replaced by Don Eduardo Calcado San
avria, secretaries on the part OF venezuela,
and myself, secretar" on the part OF the
United States.
Though it was not generally known at
the time of the signing of the protocols,
the American claims, both as to the COM
pick and delicate problem which they pre-
scented, as we'll as the large amounts and
interests involved, far outweighed In i'm
portance those of many of the other ma
tons, and in view of this fact American
interests are particularly to be congratu-
lated upon the choice of Commissioner
ence as former secretary of the American
legation at Picking, and later as commits
sioner the China claims commission, has
with his tact and diplomacy, his straight
forward, fair and equitable procedure,
known how to gain the confidence and es-
TEEN of our much harassed sister republic,
SC that while securing just recognition of
all legitimate American rights, he has I'M
derstood at the same time how to handle
| the delicate and difficult task of passing on
an utterly unexpected number of claims,
| fifty-fve in all, extending anywhere from
! 1895 down to the present time, In such a
| way that instead of the adjudication of
| these claims becoming source Of embar-
rass:nept in the relations of the two gov
ernments 1t has tended most emphatically
to further strengthen the confidence of
Venezuela in the good faith of our govern
ment and thus the bonds of friendship ex-
| listing between the two nations"
Praised by Venezuelan Press.
The press of Caracas, in commenting
upon the termination Of the labors of the
American commission, is unanimous in its
acknowledgment OF the fairness, dignity
and high plane upon which its work has
been conducted. FL .Progonero, one of the
leading dailies. says
when the results of the work of the
various claims commissions shall become
known the country will learn how correctly
the American claims commission has pro-