Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-20
IS APPROACHING 4 CRISIS All Kinds of RumorS Are in the
 Atmosphere AZ : JI ENTERTAINMENTS F,sst Britain Is Said to Have Sent Her Ultmatum. !...1lll THE UNITED STATES INTERFERE ? The British Ambassador Denies That He Called on Secretary olney to Ask for
 More Time in Which to Answer
 His Recent Note.
-JI VENEZUELAN AFFAIRS
Britain Is Said to Have Sent Her
 Ultimatum.
.7ILL THE UNITED STATES INTERFERE ?

| Washington, Oct. 19-British Ambassa- l dor Sir Julian Pauncefote authorizes an
 unqualified denial of the published state.
 ment that he called at the state depart
 ment on mission of great importance | and that he informed Secretary Olney
 that in view of the interpretation which | the country places on the Monroe doc Urine in connection with the Venezuelan | dispute Great Britain would ask for de- l lay in preparing its reply and submitting it to this government. Sir Julian said today that he was not at the department yesterday. He called on the day previ- ously, which was diplomatic day, upon the usual routine business connected with the embassy; that he has been the bearer of no letters from Lord Salisbury with refrence to Venezuela, and that he has had no connection with any correspond | ence with the state department or the | London foreign office affecting the Ven ezuelan matters for many months. Quite the most interesting well as sensational phase of the Venezuelan boundary dispute with Great Britain has been developed by the ultimatum which her ma jeSty'S government is said to have
 sent to Venezuela, growing out of the ar rest last year of Sergeant Behnrens and two assistants of British police force by the Venezuelan authorities at Uruan. Sergeant Behrens claimed that at the time of his arrest certain numbers of has household effects were seized by the Ven- ezuelan soldiery.
 After his liberation he was reim- bursed by the Caracas government for the personal loss alleged to have been sustained by him. It is now believed that the Venezuelan government will flat ly refuse to accept any ultilnatum which will look to the payment of an indem- nifty on it's part to Sergeant BehrenS or any apology for his arrest. State de- partment officials, who are familiar with the dispute between the two countries, believe that Venezuela will rest the case on the assertion that the British police were the aggressors In the first case in crossing the river and planting their flag on the west bank occupied by the Venezu- clans; that the arrest of Behrens, while not strictly legal, would not have oc- cured had he not taken the initiative and thus aroused the anger of the Nene- zuelan soldiery. Moreover, the country in which the arrest was made Is at least fifty miles west of the Schomburgk line. It lies in the part of Venezuela which is in dispute between the two countries, but the control of which Great Britain is willing to have arbitrated. The Venezu- clans, on the other hand, insist that the point where the arrest was made Is as much their own territory as the country surrounding the capitol at Caracas. It IS believed that the ultimatum will be dellV- cred to Venezuelan authorities by the German minister at Caracas Great Brit ain has had no diplomatic representative at the Venezuelan capital for some years, not since the contention between the two governments has assumed so acrimonious a shape The former German minister to Venezuela represented her majesty's government whenever occasion demanded and it is presumed that his successor, who qualified six months ago, will dis charge the same functions. Diplomats who are excitedly discussing this latest phase of the Venezuelan question today are asking if the few weeks will see in Venezuela a repetition of the Corlnto in- cident of last spring. Everything will depend upon the character of the .ulti- matum. Should the United states urge President Crespo to stand firm and to neither pay an indemnity noraapologize, this advice no doubt will be promptly taken and Venezuela will shift her quar- rel with Great Britain to the shoulders of the United States.
 Should the United States. on the other hand decline to be drawn into the affair, Venezuela's course is somewhat uncer- tain That she will tamely submit either to an invasion of her country until the indemnity is paid is not believed by those who are familiar with Venezuelan char acter
 President Crespo, who has proven him. self to be a wise and humane, ruler In peace has also high reputation for bravery and no little military skill as we'll He inaugurated the revolution sew eral years.ago which resulted in the over- throw of the Palaceo government. and which resulted in his subsequent eleva- ton to the chief magistry of the coun- try He has at his command an army of veteran troops, which. although nu- mercally small at present could be easi- ly increa ased to 100 GOO available fighting men, most of whom have seen hard ser vice. These troops, it is said, could be thrown into British Guinea and there re- taliate upon the British for any reprisals that the latter might demand upon the seacoast, and at the same time take pos session of all the couHtry which has long been in dispute between the two govern ments, and hold it against any force which might be sent against them.
 If the British government attempts q repetition of the Cornto incident their first step in the collection of an indem- ntty would be the occupation of Vene- zuelas three ports of entry, Laguayra, Porto Cabellos and Maracaibo. Vene- zuela's revenue is derived principally from customs duties, of which the major part is collected at Laguayra. The mon- eys arising from this source aggregate annually S10,000000 Laguayra is forti- fled to some extent, but the Notifications are not sufficiently strong to withstand an attack of the powerful fleet Great Britain would doubtless send there to enforce her demands.
 
 The Trust Retaliates.
 St. Louis, Oct. 19.-The American To-