The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-03-31
VENEZUELA AGAIN.

money and property stolen from foreigners by
that Government were to be arbitraed by special inter
national commissioners, and the question OF preteren
tal the bockading powers sent to the
Hague. The international commissioners have finished
their work and made their awards, and at the Hague 1t
decided that the blockadng powers had preferential
rights
To all this Venezuela bound by treaty She had
right expect other results than those that were
reached by arbitration She claim that racial pre-
JUDGE affected the result for the Latin were repre-
scented in the arbitration commissions. The Spanish
Minister Caracas chosen to consider the Mexican
claims, and when he made proper award he was as
sailed by personal abuse in the newspapers and in
suited in the street The time has for Castro
observe his international obligations, and begin pay
ing the awards in the order decided at the Hague
OF course he is not doing it. Pay day abhorred by
Latin-America, with exceptions. The Monkey Of
the Andes" makes treaties only to violate them His
disregard of obligations raises again the question of
the suciency of arbitration if there be no means of
forcing its payments.
The Hague is a court without sheriff Its findings
the highest judicial DEGREES known the world but
they worthless if they cannot become judicial hna
ties by enforcement. The Hague convention needs
vision this respect II should be made to provide that
when nation found in default by the courts Decree
neglects keep faith shall be the lawful right
of the nation suffering by that breach of faith take
entire possession of the external and internal of
the defauter and administer until the collections pay
the claim and the OF administration That will give
the actual power and vitality and will the
time lessen the number of that go to it,
AS long the convention has provision for en-
forcing decree nations like Venezuela very willing
go it. All international courts projection of
the principle of ordinary judicial into the af
fairs of nations. But judicial command re-
spect because their judgments be enforced If it
otherwise their dockets would be overcrowded for
every itigant would be entirely willing to get into
that eufOrre itdon1
many gants willing to settle ont of court and
the cost OF trial
In the situation created by Castro disregard of the
awards and of the Hague decision is said Ger
many proposes another naval demonstration and she will
doubtless be joined by the other preferential powers
This turmoil in the Monroe hemisphere and
another strain in relations with Europe Castro
entirely capable of causing serious condition.
will go far beyond blockade, for his conduct may com
pei the landing of military force and the occupation OF
his capital well the blockading of his seaports
His conduct may be such will have to interfere
to prevent the conflict taking the nature of
quest. The fellow is entirely capable of going such
lengths to put the United States in very difficult
position Were he capable of reasoning, had he any
genuine patriotism and of responsibility would
keep his treaty pledges and extrcate his country
the serious position in which has been placed by his
blunders and crimes.
One has disclosed his reckessness
and ingrattude. The American Minister Bowen went
to the of diplomatic proprety standing by Ven
ezuela. When he appeared at the Hague representa-
tive of Castro his Venezuela were
irritating to the European powers concerned, and we
commented on them the time as being far more ex-
than his position and duty required Not only in
Europe but in Washington Mr.. Bowen pursued this
causing considerable embarrassment to our State
Department. If Castro normal person and Ven
ezuela civilized country the friendly attitude of Minis
Bowen would be requted by decent personal
treatment. But instead OF this Castro's official organ
has vilely ampooned and libeled him and his Govern
ment. 1t has sandered MacVeagh and Penied. the
eminent American counsel who appeared for Venezuela
at the Hague and has melted hatred of them and their
Government by sheer lying.
There is doubt that this course was taken nv Cas-
ros orders, for when Bowen appealed against these
caunies him and the Minister of Foreign Affairs he
refused to compel correction of the falsehoods de-
clarng that he would limit the freedom OF the press
At the time he suppressed and confscaed news
that had told only the truth about his own CON
duct This conduct is exasperating to the highest de-
gree. But it will have good effect The fate of
Bowen will admonish other American diplomats that his
gets favors in for friendship and thew
will not repeat his acts and expressions of sympathy
|
Russians resident in New York and prominent in the;
identification with the affairs of the home country declare
that the smolderng in the Far East is on +Ie
part of Russia, primarily conflict for self-defense To
taught the Gar and his people the art of sedefense