The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-25

she has been unable TO secure Cn0 re-
lease from imprisonment in Venezuela
of five Dutch sailors who have been H.
legally kept in prison seven months.
ACTING UPON INSTRUCTIONS.
r1r. Bowen Has Merely Executed Or
derS From Washington.
Washington, March 22.-In calling
upon President Castro for an answer to
his proposition to submit to arbitra-
ton the issues between the United
States and Venezuela, Mr.. Bowen is
acting in connection with instructions
from the state department which have
recently been placed in his hands.
Mr.. Bowen made a proposition of
this kind to the Venezuelan foreign
office several months ago, and there
was an exchange of notes on the sub
ject, but its further consideration was
cut off by the abrupt departure from
the capital of President Castro at a
moment when his own decision was
required. The Venezuelan government
at that stage had made counter prop
osition to Mr.. Bowen looking to the
arbitration of the dispute by The
Hague tribunal, but with the import
ant qualification that the tribunal
should arbitrate as preliminary the
question as to whether or not the Uni
ted States government had the right,
under International law, to intervene
at all, as under the Venezuelan gov
ernment's claims the American con-
cessionaires must look to Venezuela for
their protection. This was construed
here as an attempt to bring into play
the old Calvo declaration, which the
United States has resolutely and re-
peatedly refused to accept in it's nego.
tiations with Southern republics.
Mr.. Bowen reported to the state de-
partment the fact of President Castro q
departure, and asked for instructions.
These were prepared with great care,
and after Attorney General Moody
had, upon call from the president, fur
nished an opinion to the effect that
the proceedings in the Venezuelan
courts involving tho asphalt company s
properties were so irregular as to
amount practically to a denial of JUS
tice. Therefore Mr.. Bowen was told
to renew his proposition for free ar
bitration of the issues between Vene-
zuela and the United States at the first
opportunity, and this. it appears, he
has now done.
Has Other Claims.
Besides the New York and Bermu.
desc Asphalt case, there are several
other matters which are suggested as
proper subjects for arbitration. II
President Castro rejects this last offer
Of Mr.. Bowen to arbitrate these cases,
it is expected that he will promptly re-
port that fact to the state department,
and it will then 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 come to withdraw its minister
and adopt some coercive measures.
There is great reluctance on the part
Of officials to the adoption Of the lat
ter course, but the situation is believed
to be such that unless the department
is willing to submit to the complete
efacement of the American claims,
some action must be taken soon. The
reported Arrangement whereby Pfesi-
dent Castro has agreed to set apart so
per cent of all the Venezuelan customs
receipts, outside Of the ports of La
Guayra and Port Cabello. to satisfy
German bondholders,. would, if con-
summated, it is feared, make it impos-
sible to secure single cent from Ven
ezuela for the payment of American
claims, for there would be no surplus,
the remaining so per cent of the rev
enues being required for the support Of
the Venezuelan government. Reports
have been arriving here for some time
that many Of the people of Venezuela
are pennilees and in need Of food. One
foreign diplomat there recently report
ed that conditions were indescri IDLE
and that the strict censorship on every
thing sent out prevented the world
from knowing the actual state Of
affairs.
NOTICE TO CHINA.
Told That No Power Nay Acquire
Territory IN nanChuria.
Kobe, March 2S.-According TO the
Peking correspondent Of the Mainichi