The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-15
THE VENEZUELAN TROUBLE.

| squadron OF American war vessels in The
harbor of La Guayra. Venezuela, is the
topic of general discussion in naval and
| newspaper circles here. There is dispo-
| sition to cloths ths sealed orders carried
| by Admiral Walker and the movements
| Of the vessels with mysterious signifi-
canoe. There is good deal of talk about
| the Monroe doctrine and the encroach-
| ments of Grea, Britain upon the territory
belonging TO Venezuela. but if state de-
partmenS officials are not deliberately de-
| ceiving the public there is no immediate
/ cause for alarm and the enthusiasts VINO
are anxious to be exchanging shots with
I British men-of-war IN enforcing the
! doctrines Of non-interterence with South
/ American countries will listen Quite
IA while before they catch the sound Of
battle.
| One of the foremost officials OF the state
! department., who is in position to know
and whose authority to speak of the atti-
tude OF the state and navy departments is
| unquestioned. said The many reasons
| assigned by the newspapers for the sailing
| of a mum Der of warships for Venezuelan
waters are nearly all conjectural The
situation in Venezuela is undoubtedly serl-
ous, especially to that government. There
is three-cornered revolution in
progress there, making decidedly
unsettled state of affairs Venezuela
is in direct and intimate commu-
nication with the United States. couse-
quently there is large number of citizens
OF the United States IN that country who
have large business and other interests to
be watched. In time like the present the
state and navy departments, following the
policy of this government of protecting its
subjects and their interests wherever they
may be, have considered it wise to have
near the scene of disturbance a sufficient
number OF United State, cruisers to ill.,
spire respect for the rights of American
citizens.
There is no question about the situation
being serious. Situations generally are
Serious when whole government is being
torn TO pieces by revolution. l know posit-
lively, however, that nothing has trans
pired yet that would warrant the assun.u-
tlon that our cruisers will be called upon,
either silently or actively, TO demand res
pect for the Monroe doctrine. | am in a
position to know The situation in Vena-
zueia as far AS the attitude or Great Brit
ain and the United States is concerned has
not changed. The public knows all about
the controversy with regard to the bound
airy line between British Guipa and
Venezuela. That has been explained and
published time and again. and there is no
change whatever in the condition OF affairs
from what it was before the last rev oiuuiou
broke out"
The department officials, as is their in
variable custom, refuse TO discuss the
movements Of the vessels or the cause for
sending Il squadron to any particular
place. Privately some of them have en-
pressed the same opinions as that of the
gentleman just quoted. In response to
question as to the likelihood of the coun-
Try being called upon to enfore the Monroe
doctrine prominent department official
SAID: Because squadron OF Uniled
States cruisers has been sent to any par
ticuiar point does not mean that trouble is
expected there. Because squad OF police
men IS sent to attend q public gathering
does not argue that there are arrests to be
made or that row Is TO occur. Nothing
has occurred as far as this government
knows that would indicate that an in
fraction of the Monroe doctrine was con-
Another phase of the Venezuela contro-
versy developed when Acting SECRETARY
OF State AGee was called upon by Francis
Gonzalez and Captain Smith of Venezuela
and their New York attorney, Mr.. l.. c. |
Raegeman. Captain Smith is the com
mander OF the steamer Portland, winch
was detained in New York harbor last |
week because she was about TO sail for a |
Venezuela port with a larpe cargo of am |
use of the revolutionlsts. As the United |
States government did not care to get into |
another tangle such as that following the |
shipment of arms to Chii III the steamer
ltaUa, it was decided TO hold the steamer
Portland. Captain Smith was there TO
urge the immediate release of the
Portland. He made no secrecy of
the fact that his ship was loaded
with arms, and was even ready to show
the manifest, which gave her cargo as IL
300 stands of rifles, several hundred boxes
Of cartridges, aGatling gun and cartridges
for the Gatling Mr.. Gonzalez is the mer-
chant who consigned the guns.
1t was urged to Secretary Adee that the
shipment was entirely OF mercantile
character and that the guns were taken
Down south for sale 10 any body who would
buy them. just as provisions might be
carried on speculation. The point Was
made that as the arms were not intended
or any particular faction or against any
special party the Uuited Stated ought not
o hold them. Mr.. Adee took the su bject
lnder adyisement. but IL Is safe To say
hat the Portland will not sail with her
yarilke cargo.
Captain Smith said to the correspondent:
/ left Venezuela about the middle Of last
month, and at that time there WAS COM
,iete Generalization OF government busl-
less, and even family relations. Those
SHO were TEN mpOfdTlty dctIDS as ulCtaLOrS
It the capital We're plunderin, the bar Ks
nd wringing money from the people. |
ad expected Oh arriving IN the Unitet
states to hear that the dictators had been
riven out and that the people had inaug-
Irated constitutional government. But
he same reign of terror continues,
Though General Crespo Will uti-
lately succeed in deposing the dictators
nd in re-establisnlng the rule OF the peo-
e My purpose was 70 carry arms where {
hey mi ghU be bought by General CrespOs
altY, although they would Ire for sale 70 I
nyoue who wanted them. | have not {
red to hide the fact that | was Carrying (
uns, for / deal IN guns just rs other
ltrcnants deal IN other commodities.
The department officials are inclined to s
00k with suspicion upon Captain Smith > |
latement. They say his destination was ! {
'riuidad, at The mouth of the OriuOco {
liver, which IS a British possession This I
ives color to the belief that the British ,
lterests al that point are helping 10 arm
Ome OF the Venezuelan factions. Il -
his British interference that the " ash
lgtou officials most object u, 50 that :
aptaIn Smiths British destination Is =
keiy TO be the main cause for refusing 20 ,
Il him sail with his ammunition. he state ,
apartment i not yet quite ready - assist =
be British, even Indirectly, in ineIr plans !
Z aggression on South American sOi..
TzsSU