The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-08-05
venezue|d'S Side of
American Claims
Public Here MiSinfOrmed as to Her
Contentious, q friend of the
Country Says.

IS insisted that the claim for damages
on that account should be submitted
to arbitration. But Venezuela insists
that these latter claims present the
same question that was involved 10
the decision Of the arbitration tribun.
al OF 1908, to the effect that claims
arising out Of the contract OF the
company must be adjusted In the
court Of Venezuela, and that they are
not a proper subject for reference to
an arbitration tribunal.
The Critehfleld Claim.
The last Is that Of the United States
and Venezuela Company, commonly
known ss the Critchfeld case. This,
too, Is based upon q contract with the
Government Of Venezuela containing
the stipulation that controversies
arising from the contract be settled
BY the Venezuela courts. The com.
pany has not yet appealed to the
courts.
In replying to note from the
American Minister at Caracas regard
ing Rehabilitation OF claims, the
Venezuelan Minister OF Foreign AT.
fairs called attention to the following
statement contained in a note from
Secretary Hay to the Government OF
Salvador in reference to a request
from the latter that case already de.
cided by arbitration be reopened:
IA failure to comply with the re-
ward would involve q grave discount.
esy to the eminent arbitrators who
sat In this Case and a serious injury
to the cause OF arbitration
Venezuela applied the above words
Of Secretary Hay to the reopening Of
the cases already decided by the
Arbitration Commission Of 1903.
The arbitration tribunal passed up.
on tifty.five American claims against
the Venezuelan Government for dam.
ages aggregating over $4,000. 900, OF
which $436, 450,or less than per ceat.
the sum claimed, was awarded to the
American claimants.
Further argument that the con-
tentions OF Venezuela are worthy at
least OF respectful hearing is contain.
ed In an article published recently In
The North American Review, where.
in the writer practically accused the
United States Of repudiating inter.
national arbitration by her attitude
in the Venezuelan question.
"By refusing to accept the award
merely because the arbitrator's view
OF equity and justice Is different from
that Of the claimant" declares this
writer, "or different from even those
of the Secretary OF State, our Govern.
ment takes position unworthy OF a
greatnation. Ifanaward be manifestly
Unjust, the evidence could be referred to
Congress for investigation, and neces-
sary, money appropriated to satisfy
the claimant. Surely such a course
is far better than discrediting inter
national arbitration, as has been
done In the case now under consider
alton.
And the same writer says In con.
his article:
Our Refusal TO Accept
Award
unless fraud Is alleged, the United
States should set the example OF abid-
ing by the decision OF international
as at present constituted,
no matter how crude the system, and
find some other way OF dealing with a
claiment who is dissatisfied with an
award than sending ultimatums TO
weaker nations, Otherwise the i'm.
preston will soon prevail that inter.
national arbitration is final only when
the award is satisfactory to the
stronger nation"
A Cure For Misery.
hT have fOupd cnra for tho p,ioarv