New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-25
OUR RIGHTS. AND OTHERS

Inc latest developments, or rumors of devel.
-opments in United States relations with Soma
countries Of Latin America are nrobahlv NOT nc
formidable as they appear upon the surface
Iney contain, however some unwelcome and
unpleasant suggestions, which are not TO no re
gafded as surprising. but rather as naturally to
De apprehended as result of what has hitherto
been done or not been done The talk of extend
ing Nenezuela's preferred creditor" system so
as to postpone any possibility of settlement with
the United States to a time approximatino to
the Greek halends should surely not be well
founded. Such action might have some color
OF excuse, TO some minds in the fact that the
United States has once acquiesced in the grant
ing OF such preference to other powers To
most minds, we are inclined to think. that fact
VIII nave exactly the opposite bearing 1t was
made pretty plain at the time that that former
arrangement, while Loyalty accepted, as the de-
cision Of an arbtral tribunal should be was
not pleasing to the United States and that this
country would not be willing to have it record
ed as precedent to be invariably followed We
have already pointed out cogent reasons why
Venezuela should not desire nor even be willing
thus TO discriminate against the United States
There is a good reason why the European
powers should not seek to have such discrimina-
ton made against us, in the fact that in our
proposal for a liquidation of Santo Domingo's
obligations we stipulated for equal treatment all
around. That equality of treatment which
America proposes for others America is morally
entitled herself to receive
Concerning Santo Domingo an effect of the
pOstponement of ratification of the American
treaty is in the fear that some European
power or powers may forcibly intervene for
the satisfaction Of their claims. Had the treaty
been ratified, no power would have thought of
such a thing, and, of course none could have
| ha tod
then have been in possession of all the customs
of the republic. AS this country would have been
administering Dominican finances for the equal
benefit of all claimants, it is to be assumed all
would have been content to await the COM
pletion Of the process. Now however that
the ratification of the treaty is postponed for
some months, there is an opportunity for some
impatient power to go in and take possession of
some port until it's claims shall have been salts
! fed. AS are at the present time thus adj
ministering port or two for our own benefit
this country might be taxed with recurring Dref
erential treatment for itself if it objected to
the enjoyment of a like privilege by another
power. Yet there can be no question that II
would be highly undesirable, from several
points of view, TO have the ports OF the island
/ thus divided among various powers. Friction
and complications would almost certainly arise
far more vexatious than any conceivable under
the pending treaty. For the interest Of all con-
cerned, it is TO be hoped no other power will
engage in such enterprise. The fact that our
treaty has not failed. but is still pending and
is altogether likely TO be ratified and put into
force at an early date next fall, may well serve
to restrain European powers from intervening.
The treaty, though not yet ratified, may prop
erly be regarded as the filing OF cayeat in
the case. 1t will conduce 10 the more prompt
and equitable settlement of all claims to have
IL thus regarded and respected
Both cases strongly emphasize the desirability
! of asserting, peacefully and amicabiy. but none
the less Enthusiastically. the rights of the United
States in Venezuela and SantO Domingo 1t is
nonsense TO say that, while we must admit the
right of other powers TO use compulsion upon
them for securing justice. we must not ourselves