A TURBULENT STATE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1902, Page 4

A TURBULENT STATE.

o The turbulent South American Republic of Venezuela is once more figuring as the storm-centre of international complications. It is not many years since its dispute with Great Britain over the Guiana boundary brought the two great English-speaking Powers within measurable distance of a diplomatic rupture. Its internal politics have for years been marked by those chances and changes which delight the half-Spanish races of the West. It is one of those strange countries in which a tilrn of the political wheel jnay compel a President to face a platoon of soldiers in the square of the capital, or the son of a General or Senator suddenly to seek a livelihood by

sweeping out an office. Rebellions are not infrequent. If successful they 1-ead to office and plunder, and if they tail to exile c execution. There is consequently a charming uncertainty about life and for tune that prevents Venezuelans from succumbing to the peaceful tortures of ennui. Unfortunately this light-hearted people is tempted at times to pay as little regard to the rights of resident aliens as to those of members of its own community. A long series of offences ol this nature against British and German subjects has at last brought squadron * of warships to La Guayra, and led io the presentation of a nt ultimatum in the names of th A Sovereigns of Great britam and Serff-afty. The Presidsnt of Venezuela w fo> & a usll e d with pride nt J ic -^<ies over Colombian enemies xno VeueftueW rebels, has adopted a deficin; tone. In the end, however, even it there has to be a little fighting nrst, he will have to yield to force majeure His heroics savour a little of opera bouffe, »nd call to mind that a Venezuelan man-of-war bearing an ultimatum to Trinidad for presentation to the Bi Itish Government, was once found in distress by a small British guuboat and tow-o in to Port of Spain with her threitemug missive. The foreign policy of Venezuela would Scarcely require serious treatment were it not for the Monroe Doctrine. There is always a dangto that European Powers in the course of merited punitive expeditions may excite the susceptibilities of the United States which claims a vague right of protecting its South American sister States, but yet fails to insist upon their fulfilling their international obligations. Were Germany acting alone in this instance trouble might arise, but the joint action with Great Britain helps to allay American suspicions. In bib last Message, too, it will be remembered President Roosevelt, while endorsing the Monro& Doctrine, warned States like Venezuela that they must pre&erve internal order and fulfil their obligations to foreigners, or take the consequences according to international custom.