The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-18

reason to believe that the United States
Government will have occasion at no
distant day to give another interpreta-
tion of the Monroe doctrine as appli-
cable to the acquisition of an island off
the coast Of Venezuela to be used by
Germany for naval station. The at
tention OF officials recently has been d.
rected to the interests of Germany in
that locality, and there is apprehension
that the subject may assume quite as
formidable an aspect as that of British
aggression on Venezuelan SOIL
An enormous amount Of German capi-
tai has been invested In Venezuela of
late under peculiar circumstances The
government wanted railroad through
rich and productive valley, and a
German syndicate stood ready to build
the road on condition that Venezuela
would guarantee seven per cent. on the
capital invested. The guarantee was
given and the road com pleted and put
into operation about eight months ago.
At the outset 1t WAS supposed that
about IS. 600. 900 wovld amply cover abe
cost Of the road, but the actual outlay
reached about SO. 000, 600.
BY the terms of the guarantee Vene-
zuels now becomes responsible to 70 the
German syndicate for c seven per cent.
return on this SS, 600, 900. The road has
not been in operation long enough to
determine what 1t will earn, but It's
most sanguine promoters do not hope
thatit will pay seven per cent. on the
outlay. Whatever 1t earns will be ap-
piled on the investment and Venezuela
will then have to give sufficient to bring
the earnings up to seven per cent. 1t
Ia said to be this and similar German
interests that are inclining the German
government to regard with favor the
acquisition of an island off the Vene-
zuelan coast, to be used as naval sta
ton and as sort Of base of operations
for Germany and on the American con-
tinents.
The guarantee Of Venezuela TO the
German syndicate Ia Of 8 private char
acter, the German government having
no interest In the matter, but IL ia
looked upon as affordiDg q convenient
means by which the governments, in
giving protection to it's citizens, could
also carry out It's desires for the acqui-
sitioD of naval station. The circum-
stances are such as to lead to believe
that the United Statea will be COMPELLED
TO define to what extent the acquisition
OF territory Dy Foreign poWerg, on South
American soil, Ia compatible with the
Monroe doctrine.
Great Britain already possesses an
island at the mouth of the Orinoco, on
which a powerful naval station has been
established. There are two other islands
near by owned by Venezuells, either of
which would be we'll adapted to Ger
many's needs. There Is another large
island further up the coast, but 1t COM
stitutes province of Venezuela, and its
people have such intense loyalty to
Venezuela that they have been named
New Spartans." They undoubtedly
would resist any separation, even If
Venezuela assented to 1t.
AT the moment that this German
phase of the Venezuela question is
making It's appearance the British
branch OF the subject Ia presenting a
more favorable aspect. Official intellis
gence has recently reached here that
Sir Vincent Darlington, representing
Great Britain in Venezuela, has
strongly pressed the British govern
ment upon an amicable settlements with
Venezuela as means Of protecting
British investments in that country.