The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-26

The Hague. February .-The area-
tration tribunal which has been Con
the claims OF the
powers for preferential treatment OF
their claims against Venezuela, has de-
cided unanimously that the three block
aiding powers. Great Britain. Germany
and Italy. have the right TO a prefer
ence OF thirty per cent. OF the customs
duties at Guaira and Puerto Cabelio.
the ntigations to pay their own costs
in the procedure and divide equally the
costs of the tribunal. The United
States 10 commissioned TO carry out the
decision OF the tribunal within three
months.
In giving judgments. the riouha
points out that IL, has been guides by
international law and the equity OF the
case. and that the protocols signed at
Washington since February 18Th. 1909.
| and particularly the protocol OF May
| 9TH, whereof the obligatory nature can
| not be DOUBTFUL, from the legal basis
| of its sentence; that the tribunal in not
| competent to question the Jurisdiction
OF the mixed commissions at caracas.
nor TO Judge their action OF the charac-
L Ter OF the dIk4h OptId sibhs Va -
| b~lockading powers, nor 10 decide III the
three blockading powers exhausted all
pacific means TO prevent the necessity
OF employing force.
The ribun decides that IL Is only in
a. position TO certify that since 1901.
Venezuela refused arbitration. proposed
on several occasions by ana
Great Britain: that after the war no
formal treaty Of peace was c~oncluded:
that the operations Of the b~lockaders
were stopped before they had received
satisfaction for all their claims. n
further. that the question of preferen-
tial "a was submitted TO arbi-
tration. The tribunal declares that Ii
found and recognized in these facts.
precious evidence in favor OF the great
principle of arbitration in all phases
Of international conflict. In adhering To
the protocols. the blockaders coui mol
nave intended TO their acquir-
ed rights, nor their privileged de faetn
position.
hi government OF Venezuela had It.
self recognized in principle the vel
foundedness OF their claims. while H
; had not recognized those OF the non
blockading powers. and until the emo
of January 1903. made not the siigntes'
protests against the claims Tor prefer
entail treatment. Throughout the dip
: lomatic negotiations, Venezuela con
: stantly DISTINGUISHED between the alliec
T powers and the neutrals. These latter
> not having protested against the claim
. for preference of the blockading powers
J either at the time the war stopped o
{ Immediately after the signature OF tn
protocol OF February 18th. the govern
. mene OF Venezuela only agreed in re
I spect TO the allied powers, TO offer Spe
!. cial guarantees for the fulfllment O
: it's engagements. The good faith whtc
should direct international relation
y ;ronnuac TIA duty IN the frfhnnaf of Ne
: claring that the words "all claims
employed by the Venezuelan represen
! tative in the negotiations with the ret
r~esentatives OF the allied powers. coul
relate only to the latter powers. Neu
trails could in GONE respect profit b
"a the circumstances created by the ope
atoms OF the war, without acquirin
!. new rights, the rights already acqufI
= ed remaining absolutely intact.
3 In the decision the United States
. charged merely to supervise the carry
:. ing out OF the decision regarding costs