The Venezuelan Trouble

Southland Times, Issue 18019, 15 December 1902, Page 2

The Venezuelan Trouble

DEFENCE PREPARATIONS.

PROPOSED ARBITRATION.

(Per United Press Association.> By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

New Yo»k, Deo. 12.

Tho Italian cruiser, Carlo Alberto, and the American gunboat, Marietta, have been ordered to La Guayra. The women are filling sand-bags for the defence of La Guayra. General Ferrer, Minister for War, has posted troops and 18 guns on the heights behind La Guayra. M»jor-General Castro, the President’s brother, is bringing 1000 men. All the Venezuelans are armed with Mausers. The remainder of the prisoners have been released.

Router’s agency reports that President Castro has asked the American Minister in Venezuela to act as arbitrator between Venezuela and England and Germany. London, Deo. 12.

The St. James’s Gazette trusts that Britain will not allow herself to become 'entangled in Venezuela, but restrict her action to the enforcement of her actual claims.

Germany is talking of the occupation of Caracas to maintain her offended dignity.

AMERICA WON’T ARBITRATE.

Washington, Dec. 13. Received 14th, 5.6 p.m.

M r Hay, replying to Castro’s proposal to the American Minister to ask ,for arbitration, authorises the Minister, in discretion, to use the good offices of peace, but whatever is done in th-,t matter he represents, not the United States, but Venezuela, at Venezuela’s request.

TOO LATE FOR ARBITRATION.

Berlin, Dec. 13. Received 14th, 5.6 p.m

German official circles affirm that if the prizes were really destroyed it was due to their unseaworthiness or for military reasons. The ileets were originally ordered to seize the revenue cutters before the blockade.

London, Dec. 13. Received I4th,*s 6 p.m.

Ferrer is entrenching his position. The Standard s lys that after Castro’s scornful treatment of the reasonable demands of the Powers, arbitration cannot be substituted for definite settlement.

3HE MONROE DOCTRINE.

NO PERMANENT OCCUPATION.

New York, Dec. 14.

The Americans assert that Germany sank the prizes to prevent the necessity of removing them to British ports. A member of President Roosevelt’s Government admitted the Powers’ right to seize the Customs, blockade ports, land troops, and occupy the capital without infringing the Monroe doctrine. Germany, in writing, and Britain, verbally, have agreed not to seize territory" in lieu of indemnity, or to permanently occupy.