The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-20
Great Britain Said 10 Have demanded
Indemnity lor Sergeant Behrtns.
REFUSAL TO PAY VERY PROBLBLE.
venesuela's Contention 10 That Bshren's
Forces Were the Aggressors
Boundary Dispute Invelved-If
War Results . Bitter
Fight Expected.

at the State Department yesterday on a
mission OF great Importance. that he in
formed Secretary Olney In substance that
In view OF the Interpretation. which this
country placed upon the Monroe doctrine
in connection with the Venezuelan dis
pute. Great Britain would ask for some
delay in preparing its reply ard submit
ting II to this Government.
Sir Julian said to-day that he was not
at the Department yesterday He called
on the day previous. which was dplo-
| matte day upon the usual routine business
| connected with the Embassy, that he has
been the bearer of no letter from Lord
| Salisbury with reference TO Venezula and
that he has had no connection whatever
with any of the correspondence between
the State Department and the London For
| eign Office affecting the Venezuelan mat
ter FOR many months.
Aside from Sir Julian's plain and en-
phatc denial Of this report, It may be
| stated here that Lord Salisbury's formal
| reply to Secretary Olney's memoranda
| Whicn contained an elaboration Of the
| monroe doctrine, as stated in the dis
| patches from London yesterday was made
weeks ago. Ii was exceedingly brief and
stated in effect that the importance OF
Majesty's Government would consider II
carefully before answering II In extenso.
III now appears that Secretary Olney's
original letter was sent to Ambassador
bayard and by him transmitted to Lord
Salisbury In August last Lord Sails
purys reply was made through Mr. Bay
ara and 1t is presumed that any future
communications between him and the
secretary with reference to the Monroe
ooctrine VIII also come through the same
channels.
CAUSE or TIE TROUBLE
quite the most interesting as well as
sensational phase of the Venezuelan
boundary dispute with Great Britain has
oeen developed by the ultimatum which
her Majesty's government is said IN
nave sent TO Venezuela, growing out OF
the arrest last year OF Sergeant Rehrens
ana TWO assistants of the British police
force by the Venezuelan authorities at
truan. Sergeant Behern' household ef-
fects were seized by the soldiers. After
MS acquittal he was reimbursed for Tho
personal loss alleged to have been sus-
tanned. ''S-
III Is now believed that the Venezue,an
government will fatty refuse 10 accent
any ui,iinat'im which Will look to the
payment OF an indemnity on its mart
TO SerSean. Behrens or an apoIogv sor
his arrest. FNe' 'o'
state Department officials who are IA
miliar with the dispute between the two
countries believe that VenezueIans
VIII rest their case on the assertion
mat the British police were the
asressors IN the first case I'm |
Tossing tne river and planting their |
flag on the west bank occun,ed hv |
the Venezuelans that the arrest of Rer- |
rens, While not strictly legal, would not |
nave occurred had he not taken the in, |
tduVe ana thus aroused the anger of |
the venezuelan soldiers. Moreover. the
country In which the arrest was made
Is more than fifty miles west of the
SchoNourgk line Il lies in that part or
neheHueia which Is In dispute between
the TWO countries. but he control of
which Great Britain is willing TO have
arbitrated.
The BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
Ine Nenezuelans. .on the other hand.
insist that the point where the arrest
was made Is as much their territory as
lne country surrounding the capital at
caracas. Ii Is presumed that the ultima
tum will be delivered 10 the Venezuelan
authorities by the German minister AT
caracas. Great Britain has had no dlplo-
matte representative at the Venezuelan |
capitai Tor some years; not since the con-
tentlon between the two governments has |
assumed SO acrimonious a shape The |
FORMER German minister at Venezuela |
represented her MaJesty's government
whenever occasion demanded, and IL is
presumed that his successor. who ouall-
fled six months ago, will discharge the
same functions
Diplomats who are excitedly discussing
tnls latest phase OF the Venezuelan oues-
'ion to-day are asking II the next few
weeks Will see in Venezuela a repetition !
of the Corinto incident OF last spring.
Everything will depend upon the char
acter or the ultimatum. which, following
the custom pursued BY Venezuela for
years. will probably be at once forward.
ed TO Washington for the consideration
of the State Department. What action |
this Government will take cannot. OF
course, be foretold.
Should the United States urge Presl-
lent Crespo 10 stand firm. and neither
pay an Indemnity nor apologize this
advice, no doubt, Will be promptly taken.
and thus Venezuela will shift her quar-
-el with Great Britain to the shoulders
If the United States.
vESFZU LAYs ARR pLUcKY.
Should the United States. on the other )
iand. decline to be drawn into the at
air. Venezuels's course Is somewhat un-
'ertain. Inat she VIII tamely submit | Z
o an invasion Of her country until | r
he indemnity is paid is not believed
" those who are familiar with vene- !
uelan character
President Crespo, who has proved him.
ELF to be wise and humane ruler in
eace. has also a high repu' ton for
ravery and no little military skill as
yell. He inaugurated the revolution q
everal years ago which resulted In the n
verthrow OF the Palacio Government I
nd which resulted in his subsequent eIe-
alton to the chief magistracy OF the =
ountry. He has at his command an
rmy of veteran troops, which, though | n
numerically small at present. could be | n
asily increased to 10000 available nght- v
* men, most of whom have seen hard e
ervice. These troops, 1t is said, could I"
o thrown into British Guiana, and there
etaliate upon the British for any re-
risals that the latter might demand on
ne east coast. and at the same time | o
IKE possession OF all the country. which | K
as long been In dispute between the two "
and hold II against any p
,rce which might be sent against them. q
II the British Government attempts a | fr
.petition Of the Corinto incident. their n
rst step I'm the collection Of an indcmni-
would be the occupation of venezue-
q three ports Of entry-La Guayra,
orto Cabelios. and Maracibo.
vfxrzuEr ~ r. SOURCES. N
venexuela's revenues are derived prfn- ~
pally from custom duties. of which the 70
ajor part are collected at La 0uayara.
Tha uoneva arialng from thia aos,rc> |