Mr. White to Mr. Hay.
London , December 18, 1902 .
(Mr. White reports that he has just been informed by the British minister for foreign affairs, upon the termination of the council, that the cabinet gladly accept the principle of arbitration for the purpose of settling the dispute with Venezuela, and would be disposed to approach the President of the United States and ask if he would act as abitrator. Certain claims would, however, be excluded from arbitration, and His Majesty’s Government will be able at an early date to explain what categories, the nature of which Mr. Hay can surmise, will form the excluded claims, with respect to which immediate cash settlement will be required. Meanwhile it is not proposed for the present to desist from the measures of coercion now in progress.)