Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
CASES BEFORE HAGUE
Important Issues Submitted
Give Dignity to Court.
NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES
Treaty Of 1918 to Be Construed by
International Tribunal.
CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA
Disputes Between Other Nations
Which Are to Be Adjudicated
in Near Future.

Again the good Offices of the interna-
tional court Of arbitration at The Hague
are to be invoked to settle important in
ternational disputes, this time In matters
in which the American government is
vitality interested
| 1t will not be the first occa sion in which
recourse has been made to that august
tribunal in issues in which this govern
ment has figures. The cases of the Plus
fund of the CALIFORNIA; and Of the pre-
ferred creditors of Venezuela, which
were awarded preferential treatment fol-
| lowing blockade of her ports, both
were passed on by the court, each OF i'm
portance to the United States.
Neither of them. however, is regarded
as of as great consequence as that. pri-
marily. of the Interpretation to be placed
on article l Of the treaty of 1918, touching
the rights Of Americans to fish in the
waters Of Newfoundland. and, secondarily.
| the issues to be arbitrated as result of
| the agreement recently reached between
Mr.. Buchanan. the American special COM
missioner, and President Gomez of Vene-
zuela. both Of which are to go to The
| Hague.
Prestige Given to Court.
The compromise" negotiated by Secre-
tary Root with Amba ssador Bryce, which
| incorporates the fisheries dispute 10 be
arbitrated. has been ratified By the Senate.
! The two nations interested have agreed
on the arbitration.
In submitting to The Hague impor-
tant principle that involved in the
| fisheries controversy both the American
and the British governments are giving
that tribunal prestige in the initial
| stages Of its existence which is regarded
n iY1tn "a in0 int
! renee of the first magnitude, and one cal
culated to have great influence in inspir-
| ing similar action by other nations bur-
dened with International disputes. which,
! if not adjusted, may lead to serious
| suits.
| The findings OF the court will be awaited
with the greatest interest and impa thence
! by the New England fishing interests. for
| they mean much to that hardy class of
! men who yearly make the Newfoundland
| shore their rendezvous. and who supply
a large portion of the northeastern mar
ketS with fish food products. Their treaty
rights have been questioned. their work
| tnterfered with and they have suffered
from the attempted enforcement of GER
tain local laws or regulations the privilege
to enact which has been warmly contested
| by this government.
| The disputes of long standing. and
each country. confident of the correct
ness, OF its own contentious. is expected
to abide by the decision OF the court. Be
cause of the long time allowed for the
prepa ration of the case. the submission
of arguments. etc, it will be more than
year before the questions in dispute are
fully before the tribunal for decision.
Claims Against Venezuela.
Years of effort and of arguments by the
State Department failed Of success in
reach hing basis of settlement OF the dis
putes with Venezuela. which finally came
as result of suggestions made by Presi
dent Gomez after Castro left Venezuela
and when that country was being harass-
ed by the action of the Dutch war YES
sells sent there by Holland following the
breaking off Of friendly relations between
I tie TWO nations.
/ Secretary Root received in 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.
/ The result OF his labors is said to be
satisfactory alike TO both the State De-
partment and 10 the South American re-
| public
i The strained situation which had pre-
coded Mr.. Buchanan's mission for so long
| a period was source of regret to Score
/ tary Root. who has taken great deal OF
/ interest in the Wellbeins of our sister re-
pub.ics to tie south. He pointed out that
i tie American government had on repeat
/ ed occasions interviewed as a friend in
] need in behalf of Venezuela to relieve her
cations with other powers.
/ That a majority of the disputes are to
go to The Hague is regarded favoraby-
| II removes any opport unity for charges
! of force or intimidation which might
have been made against this government
| had they been settled directly between
the two countries.
:. TIL Willingness of the United States to
4 thus dispose of them. it is pointed out.
4 demonstrai es to the nations of this hemi-
! sphere its faith in the honor and fairness
4 OF the court, leaving TO the fate of that
I tribunal questions affecting the interests
of countries in which this government in
some respects exercises a paternal inter-
est and In whose behalf il always stands
ready 10 uphold the Monroe doctrine.
Three Disputes Submitted.
Various phases of three disputes go to
/ The Hague as result of Mr.. Buchan-
/ ans negotiations, nancy:
That OF the United States and Venezuela
| Company. (which claims it has been de-
prived of the right TO mine asphalt and
to build railroad;
That of the Orinoco Corporation. which
claims large concessions covering iron
mines. asphalt privileges and hardwood
i concessions. and
The case of the Orinoco Steamship Com
Dany. which claims the exclusive rights of
navigation on branches of the Orinoco
| river
/ In the two latter cases the court Is to
decide primarily whether the judgments
of previous arbtratiOns or decisions of
umpires were correct and are 10 stand,
/ and. Ii not. then they are TO be heard on
their merits
Three arbitrator are to be appointed.
AS in the case of the fisheries dispute.
more than year will elapse before de-
cisi0n is rendered
On the part of the United States the
| preparation of the cases will not be a
/ formidable proposition. as there is already
a mass of data bearing on them available
which formed the basis of the arguments
made to President Castro in behalf of
arbitration. Although complicated to some
extent, after all questions of fact largely
| predominate. unlike the controversy over
The Newfoundland fisheries. where spe-
,ific Interpretation of an existing treaty
will form the burden of the work of the
| court.
| After Castro declined to arbitrate the
disputes either separately or collectively.
the State Department passed the whole
question up TO Congress. but no instruc-
! tons were given for the guidance of the
department to proceed to force a settle
ment. There appeared to be no general