VENEZUELA AND THE POWERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1610, 7 January 1903, Page 33

VENEZUELA AND THE POWERS

NEW YORK* January 3. The allies have arranged to also submit to Tne Hague Tribunal tlie Belgian and Dutch, claims against Venezuela. Mr Hay, Secretary of State, in forwarding President Castro ; s acceptance of arbitration to the Powers, declined to endorse 5 the accompanying proposal that the head of some American Kepublio should act as arbitrator. The suggestion was afterwards dropped. NEW YORK,- January 4. The Germans have seized the Custom House at Puerto Gabello.

The bloekaders took a Venezuelan .vessel from the inner harbour and landed a force on the wharf, but there was no firings The occupation was- only temporary. Fifty captured vessels have been towed to Port, of Spain. NEW YORK, January 5.

The “ New York. Herald ” states that it has received. a cypher message which, however, is not clear —to the effect that General Castro is resigning the Presidency of Venezuela. Other advices state that the bank at Caracas has no funds to redeem goods or to meet Government expenditure. While the steamer Zumbador, flying the British flag, was towing some captured prizes the hawsers parted, and she returned to La Guayra, landing her crew.

The German cruiser Yineta was at y Puerto Cabello when the Customhouse .and; a number of vessels were seized. It w r as quite suddeni The explanation given is that the captures were necessary to ensure an effective blockade. Thirty thousand dollars was seized aboard the prizes. The withdrawal of the forces has pacified the inhabitants, who, however, now dread the revolutionists camped m the vicinity.

BEEUN, January 5.

Several German newspapers have grown impatient at the delays in making an attack an Monroism, declaring that Germany always repudiated the doc tripe, and that the South American States do not recognise the United States as the supreme authority.