Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-08
IMP ORTANT ISSUES
BEFORE THE HAGUE
CONTROVERSY BETWEEN UNITED
STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN
TO BE SUBMITTED.
ALSO VENEZUELAN AGREEMENT
NEGOTIATED BY BUCHANAN
TO BE CONSIDERED.

are to be invoked to settle important
| International disputes, this time in
matters in which the American gov
eminent is vitality interested 1t will
not be the first occasion in which
recourse has been made to that august
tribunal in issues in which this gov
eminent has figured, the cases of the
piOus fund of the Californians and of
the preferred creditors" of Venezuela
which were awarded preferential
treatment following a blocade of her
ports, both having been passed on by
the court and each of Importance to
the United States. Neither of them,
! however, are regarded as of as great
| consequence as that, primarily, OF the
Interpretation to be placed on article
one Of the treaty of 1918 touching
the rights of Americans to fish in the
waters of Newfoundland and, second
ariIy, the issues to be arbitrated as
a result of the agreement recently
reached between Mr.. Buchanan, the
American special commissioner and
President Gomez of Venezuela. both
Of which are to go to The Hague
The compromise negotiated by Sec
rotary Root with Ambassador Bryce
which incorporates the fisheries dis
pute to be arbitrated, has been rati-
fed by the senate and the two ma
lions interested have agreed on the
arbitration. In submitting to The
Hague so important a principle as
that involved in the fisheries contro-
versy both the American and the
British governments are giving that
tribunal a prestige in the initial
stages of its existence which is re-
garded automatically as an internal
tiOnal occurrence of the first mag
nitude and one calculated to have
great influence in inspiring similar
action by other nations burdened
with international disputes, which if
not adjusted, may lead to serious re-
suits. The findings of the court
will be awaited with the greatest in
terest and Impotence by the New
England fishing interests for it
means much to that hardy class of
men who yearly make the Newfound-
land shore their rendezvous and who
supply a large portion OF the north
eastern markets with fish food prod
ucts. Their treaty rights have been
questioned, their work interfered with
and they have suffered from the at
tempted enforcement of certain local
laws or regulations the privilege to
enact which has been warmly con-
tested by this government. The dis
putes are of long standing and each
country, confident of the correctness
Of its own contentious, is expected to
abide by the decision of the court.
Because of the long time allowed for
the preparation of the case, the sub
mission of arguments, etc., it will be
more than a year before the ques-
tons in dispute are fully before the
tribunal for decision.
Years of effort and of arguments
by the state department failed OF sue
cess in reaching a basis of settle
ment of the dispute with Venezuela,
which finally came as a result of sug-
gestions made by President Gomez,
after Castro left Venezuela and when
that country was being harassed by
the action of the Dutch war vessels
sent there by Holland following the
breaking off of friendly relations be
tween the two nations. Secretary
Root received in a cordial spirit the
advances made by Gomez and sent
Mr.. Buchanan to Venezuela promptly
with full instructions to deal with the
subject of the settlement of the
claims, and the result of his labors
are said to be satisfactory alike to
both the state department and to
the South American republic. The
strained situation which had proceed
ed Mr.. BuChanan'S mission for so
long a period was a source of regret
to Secretary Root who has taken a
great deal of interest in the well be-
ing of our sister republics TO the
sOlth and he pointed out that the
American government had on repeat
ed occasions interviewed as a friend
in need in behalf of Venezuela to re-
lieve her from disagreeable and dan
gerOus complications with other pow
ers. That a majority of the disputes
are to go to The Hague is regarded
favOrably, for it removes any oppor-
tunity for charges of force or intimi-
dation, which might have been made
q
been settled directly between the two
countries. The willingness of the
United States to thus dispose of them!
it is pointed out, demonstrates to the
nations of this hemisphere, it's faith
in the honor and fairness of the court, |
leaving TO the fate of that tribunal
questions affecting the interests of
countries in which this government,
in some respects exercises a paternal
interest, and in whose behalf it al
ways stands ready to uphold the
Monroe doctrine.
Various phases of three disputes
go to The Hague as a result Of Mr..
Buchanan's negotiations, namely:
That of the United States and Vene-
zuela company which claims it has
been deprived of the right to mine
asphalt and to build a railroad; that
o. the Orinoco corporation which
aims large concessions converting
iron mines asphalt privileges and
HI rdwood concessions; and the case
of the Orinoco steamship company
which claims exclusive rights Of navi
CATION on branches Of the Orinoco