VENEZUELA.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 709, 3 January 1903, Page 3

VENEZUELA.

INSOLENT CASTRO. By Telegraph— Press Association —Copyright New York, Jan. 1. Tho revolutionists claim a victory at Barquesimonto. A correspondent found Castro lunching, dancing, and walking arm in arm with a mistross. Interviewed regarding tho Hague arbitration, Castro laughed triumphantly, saying the Powers had yielded to him

Acting on the suggestion of Prcsideri Roosovelt, tho Allies have agreed to rofe tho Venezuelan dispute to tho arbitratioi of tho Hague Court. They wouid bun proferrod that the President himself shouk arbitrato, but the lutter was plainly reluc tant to tako up a position which rnighl involve the United States in activo inter, vention in tho quarrol. This is the first really important ease that has been submitted to tho Hague Court, and it will be interesting to see how far tho authority of that tribunal will provo effective in enfore ing a peaceful settlement upon a republic which up to tho present has shown itself unwilling to submit tho issuoß to arbitration. Although active hostilities will now bo discontinued pending tho award of tho Court, tho situation still remains a delicate ono. In a sense tho United States has taken a hand in tho dispute, and tho reference to the Hague Court at the suggos tion of the President of the United States implies a moral obligation on her part to assist the othor Powers in enforcing, if noccssary, tho acceptance by Venezuela of an adverse awurd. It is suggested, and no doubt upon very good grounds, that an understanding has been arrived at whereby tho award of the Court shall not infringe tho Monroe Doctrino of tho United States —in which caso it would seem to bo moro than aver her duty to share in the responsibility of carrying out tho ■ terms of tho award. Whether a furtljer display of force will bo required to compel Venezuela to obey tho decision of tho Hague Court remains to bo soon. The progress of hostilities up to tho present has shown tho difficulty of inflicting pnnisbmont upon tho recalcitrant Republic without actually landing troops and seizing tho principal towns, und tho matter of enforcing the award should Venezuela refuse to accept it will be an extremely delicate, not to say difficult task. The chief advantage of tho reference is that it removes the immediate tonsion of the ’'situation. Time is a great solvent of difficulties, and by the time the Court gives its award the situation may have completely changed. Hvery roferonce to the Hague Court must be regarded in the light of an interesting experiment, and the upshot of the Venezuela difficulty will be awaited with keen anticipation.— Proas.