The Venezuela Trouble.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 97, 16 December 1902, Page 3

The Venezuela Trouble.

m I During the last few days the di£- j ferences existing between the Venezuela Government on the one hand and the British and German Governments on the other, over the failure of the former to pay certain moneys due, have assumed serious proportions. The contending Powers are preparing for actual warfare, and the cables state that two prizes were sunk by German warships off the coast. Representations have been made from American quarters that the difficulties should be settled by arbitration. ' London Standard » says, however, that after President Castro's scornful treatment of the reasonable demands of the Powers arbitration cannot be substituted for definite settlement while a member of Presisident Koosevelt's Government admitted that the Powers had a right to seize the Customs, blockade che ports, land troops, and occupy the capital without infringing the Monroe doctrine. Germany in writing and Great Britain verbally agreed not to seize territory in lieu of an indemnity or to permanently occupy any position. Several prisoners were seized, by the Venezuelan officials, but they have since been released. The Italian cruiser Carlq_Alberto and the American gunboat Marietta have been ordered to La Guayra. The women are filling sandbags for the defence of La Gaayra. General Ferrer, Minister of War, has posted troops and 18 guns on the heights behind La Guayra. Major-general Castro, the President's brother, is bringing 1000 men, all Venezuelans, armed with Mausers.