The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-02-11
TFIE
EZUELA.

zuela having a large amount of claims
to esttle. The real question at is
sue was whether the nations which
had entered upon the blockande were
entitled to what was called prefer
entail treatment. That is, whether
they should have first call on the
customs revenues of Venezuela,
The Hague tribunal, after hearing
arguments, decided in favor of pref
erential treatment. Many fine dis
tinctions were drawn in the decision,
( but in spite of the subtleties and
| technicalities of international law
| it was impossible for ordinary per-
sons to get away from the view that
If the other countries wanted to col
lect their claims the best way would
be by gunboats as the first step in
arbitration. This finding caused
something of a reaction in the United
| States against The Hague and many
public men used it as an argument
| against submitting American 7ques"
| tiOns to a tribunal in which European
| influence predominated. But the law
yers came to the front and defended
| the decision.
Whether the finding of The Hague
tribunal was entirely satisfactory to
| the United States or not, there was
| only one thing to do, and that was
to accept it loyalty and in good
spirit. This was done and umpires
were appointed to hear and adjust
the various claims. Though Ger
many has by far the largest com
mercial and financial interest in
Venezuela, the awards so far have
been mainly with reference to Brit
ish and Italian claims. Some prog
ress has been made in adjusting the
claims of the creditor nations WHICH
did not enter into the blockading
alliance.
1t is difficult to get the exact facts
in regard the the extent to which the
customs receipts of Venezuela have
been applied or are applied to the
payment of the claims. Some of the
creditors complained that the reve-
nues were being diverted and the
general assertion has been made that
Venezuela is not paying up. The
Venezuelan government retorts that
it is paying up. Probably the de-
gree to which this is being done is
known to the authorities in Wash
ington
The European creditors, In the
meantime, continue to press the re-
sponsibility for the payment of their
claims on the United States, and
some of them are insisting that this
country should step in and take
charge of the Venezuelan customs
houses.
The third phase of the general
subject has reference solely to the
United States and Venezuela. This
country not only has claims of its
own citizens to press, the same as
the European countries, but 1t has
also controversies between rival
American citizens or companies.
The most acute of these subjects is
the asphalt controversy.
The rival of the asphalt inter-
ests in the United States is reflected
in the Claims regarding Venezuelan
ootcessions. One company insists
IL
forcibly dispossessed in the interest
of its rival and that it's property has
been seized by the venezuelan gov
eminent. 1t wants the asphalt lakes
back again, and If it gets them pre-
sumably will have claim for the
loss suffered in the meantime.
The reply is made in general terms
Castro's government. and that If it
fomenting a revolution against Gen.
VI pesssus spu 6Ilunoo s!ul lpup
had any rights these have been for
feited This charge is energetically
denied.
Reports from Caracas have been TO
the effect that Minister Bowen has
not had an easy time of it since he
returned to Venezuela in October,
| and that the friendly personal rela-
and that the friendly personal rela-
/ tween him and President Castro have
been strained to the breaking point.
! On this subject no statement Is made
| beyond the general one that the
| United States minister is continuing
to perform his diplomatic functions
| as usual.