The San Francisco call., 1905-03-22
Must Either Arbitrate With
United States or This
Country Will Move in Its
Own Way in the Matter
ANSWER DEMANDED
TO PROPOSITION
France Inclined to Allow
America to Handle Case
While Holland Prepares
to Use COercive Measures

WILLEMSTAD, Island of Curacao,
March .21.-The Venezuelan Govern
ment, it is announced from Caracas,
has received note from the American
Minister, Bowen, requesting an answer
as to whether Venezuela will arbitrate
the questions pending and saying that.
in case of a. refusal, the United States
will feel free to take the step which
may be necessary to secure justice.
The Charge d'Affaires of The Neither
lands has advised the Venezuelan
Government that Holland will use CO.
erclve measures in view of the fact
that she has been unable to secure the
release from Imprisonment in Vene-
zuela of five Dutch sailors who have
been Illegally kept in prison for seven
months.
WASHINGTON, March 21.--In call
ing upon President Castro for an an
swer to his proposition to submit to ar
bitration the issues between the United
States and Castro Minister Bowen is
acting in accordance with specific in
structionS from the State Department
which have recently been placed in his
hands. Bowen made proposition of
this kind to the Venezuelan Foreign
Office several months ago, and there
was an exchange of notes on the sub
ject, but it's further consideration was
cut off by the abrupt departure from
the capital of President Castro at q
moment when his own decision was re-
quired. The Venezuelan Government
at that stage had made counter
proposition to Bowen. This was con-
strued here as an attempt to bring into
play the old Calvo doctrine, which the
United States has resolutely and re-
peatedly refused to accept in it's nego-
tiations with the Southern republics.
Besides the New York and Bermu-
dez asphalt case there are three other
matters which are suggested as prop
er subjects for arbitration, namely,
the Critchfield claim (also based on
an asphalt concession); the claim of
the Orinoco Steam Navigation Com
pany, based on a violated franchise,
and the claim of the newspaper cor
respondent Jaurett for damages aris-
ing from his summary expulsion from
Venezuela.
If President Castro rejects this last
offer of Bowen to arbitrate these cases
it is expected that he will promptly
report that fact to the. State Depart
ment and it will be determined what
course to pursue. The Minister'S pre-
sentiment of this matter. therefore. is
not an, actual ultimatum, for the way
Is still open for further negotiations
If the department decides that the
time has not yet arrived to withdraw
its Minister and adopt some coercive
measures. There is great reluctance
on the part of officials to adopt the
latter course, but the situation is be-
lieved to be such that some action
must be taken very soor
PARIS, March 21.--The Foreign
Office says the French Minister at
Caracas has not presented an ultima
tum to Venezuela and no French war;
ships have been sent to Venezuela.
The officials here are surprised and
displeased at the reports, which they
construe as tending to force the hand
of France into a more aggressive and
belligerent policy than anything
France contemplates. Intimations are
that the United States occupies the
best position to send warships, owing
to the length of time the American
controversy with Venezuela has been
pending, whereas the French contro-
versy is of comparative recent ORR
gin and has not yet been decided by
the courts