Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-22
THE VENEZUELAN AFFAIR.
It Is Not Any Nearer Solution Than Is the
Dispute Between Corbett and
Fitzsimmons.

Washington, Oct 21-It is doubted if
Great Britains uhimatum to Venezuela
has yet reached Caracas. The state de-
partment, it is believed, will be informed
of it's contents as soon as it shall have
been placed in Crespo's hands. At noon
today the department had heard nothing
with reference to the matter either
through the American charge d'affairs at
Caracas, or Mr.. Andrade, the Venezue-
Ian representative. IL Venezuela does
not Immediately acquaint the United
States with the full text of the ultimatum
it will be the first exception she has made
since her long standing trouble with
Great Britain began. The Importance OF
the present affair so much exceeds IN
gravity any of the previous contentious
between the two countries that 1t is not
doubted that Venezuela, following her
usual custom, will at once place copies OF
all communications relating to the Uri-
ana incident before Secretary Olney.
The probability that Great Britain will
take drastic measures to enforce-h her de-
mands make the affair one of absorbing
interest to diplomats and pubic o11clalS
as well. The ultimatum has had extend
ed discussion since Sunday last and spec
ulation is increasing instead of diminish
ing as to its outcome. 1t is contended that
Venezuela can neither apologize nor pay
an indemnity for the arrest of Sergeant
Behrens.
To do this will be, it is claimed, tacit
admission that the British functlonary
and his associates were seized on Engllsh
soil That they We're not on English SOIL
is evidenced by the facts that at the time
of their arrest they were fully fifty miles
west of the Schomburg line which mounts
the boundary of Great BritainS western
pretensdons. The Venezuelan govern
ment feels that 1t has already made every
reparation which International law de-
mands. Sergeant Behrens was reim-
bursed for the property alleged to have
been lost by him, while General Sifontes.
who commanded the military district in
which the arrest occurred, was promptly
relieved and sent to another state as a
rebuke for his unnecessary zeal in per-
hitting the arrest to be made. This being
the case the Crespo government feel that
any further acknowledgment of the at
fair would degrade them in the eyes of the
civilized world 1t is also regarded as sig
nificant that her majesty's government
should not have acted with reference to
the Uruna incident until. Secretary OIL
ney's memorandum to Lord Salisbury in
which he elaborated the Interpretation
put by this country upon the Monroe doc
trine, had been received at he British
foreign office. So far as Venezuela Is
concerned, the incident was supposed to
have been settled by the release of the
British officer and the prominence given
reason, not clearly understood although
it's motive is shrewdly suspected
The diplomatic representatives of Gem
trail and South America are following this
affair withsinterest second only to that
which would attach to similar complca-
ton between their own countries and
great European power.
However much the Latin American re-
pubHcs may wrangle among themselves,
however numerous and deep seated the
tel 1f4iaa
exist between them, it is obvious so far
as the outside world is concerned, they
are unit whenever the interests of one
of their number are jeopardized. In the
present case Venezuelas quarrel with
Great Britain partakeS of a personal
character, 50 far as the dozen Spanish
American republics are concerned. They
contend that the Uruana affair is mere
incident connected with the repeated vio-
lations of the Monroe doctrine, of which
Great Britain has been guilty in Vene-
zuela for half century, and conspicu-
ously during the last decade or more.
Great Britain, 1T is asserted, is in the
present instance, testing the United
States with reference to the Monroe doc
trine and in using the Urlrana incident
as a pretext to force the hand of the
United States. No hint is given by Sec
rotary Olney or any state department Off
cial as to the course which this country
will pursue with reference to Great
BritatnS ultlmafun, nor from present III
directions is 1T likely to be given.
1t Is not believed that a blockade, by
Great Britain, of Venezuela's ports would
enable the former country to collect an
indemnity however small
If Venezuela should prove stubborn and
decline to pay an indemnity whatever
revenues it needed might be raised by
the imposition of internal taxes in lieu of
customs duties 1t is stated that the
Venezuelan people would willingly bear
| these new burdens in order to maintain
| their national dignity and self respect.