Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-22
VENEZUELA AQUARREL
Probability That Great Britain Will
Take Drastic Measures.
IMPORTANCE OF THE AFFAIR.
spnnish-Amcricnn Republics Gene
rnuy Hold That II Is Merely Incf-
dental to Repeated Violations of
the Monroe DOctriDy.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., October I.-
II is doubted If Great Britain's ultima
tum has yet reached Venezuela. The State
Department, il is believed, Will be
made aware Of its contents as soon as
IL shall be placed in President Crespo's
hands.
At noon to-day the department had
heard nothing with reference 10 the mat
ter. either through the American charge
d'affaires at Caracas. or Mr.. Andrews,
the Venezuelan representative here.
The importance Of the present affair
SO much exceeds In gravity any of the
previous contentious between the two
countries that II is not doubted that
Venezuela. following her usual custom,
will at once place copies OF all communi-
cations relating TO the Uruana incident
before Secretary Olney.
The probability that Great Britain will
take drastic measures to enforce her
demands makes the affair one of absorb
ing interest to diplomats. and public Of
cials as well. The ultimatum has been
the subject Of extended discussion since
Saturday last. and specula ton Increases
rather than diminishes in the absence OF
any definite knowledge as to It's charac-
ter.
1t is conceded that Venezuela can
neither apologize nor pay an indemnity.
To DO either would be. 1t is claimed, a
tacit admission that the British func-
tionary and his associates were seized
on English soil. That they were not
on English soil is evidenced by the fact
that the point of their arrest was fuzzy
Of a Gqbnmhnrult line
which marks the boundary of Great
Britan's western prctensions
VENEZUELA'S POSITION.
The Venezuelan Government AYERS that
il has already made every reparation
which international law demands. Ser
geant Bchrens was reimbursed fer the
property alleged 10 have been lost while
General Sifontes. who commanded the
military district in which the arrest oc-
Cured. was promptly relieved and sent
10 another State as 4 rebuke for his un-
necessary zeal in permitting the arrest
20 be- made. This being the case, the
CrespO Government feel that any further
acknowledgment of the error would be
superfuOus. and would degrade them in
the eyes of the civilized world, 10 mat
ter what Great Britain's attitude may be.
IL is also regarded as significant that
iff MaJtSl. bDNtluNituA SANlNl HNNSi
have acted with reference 20 the Iruana
incident until after Secretary Olneys
memoranda to Lord Salisbury. in which
ne elaborated the Interpretation put by
this country on the Monroe doctrine. had
been received at the British Foreign
Office.
SO far as Venezuela IL concerned, the
incident was supposed to have been set
tied by the release of the British officer
and the prominence given to the meter
~ this late date Is not clearly understood
although its motive is shrewdly sus-
pected.
The diplomatic representatives, OF Cen
trll and South America are following this
affair with a degree OF interest second
only To that which would attach 10 4
similar complication between their own
countries and a great European Power
However much the l.atln-Ainerican re-
publics may wrangle among themselves;
however numerous and decp-scdted the
commercial ana political rivalries that
exist between them, i is obvious that
50 far a. the outside world is concerned,
they are a unit whenever the interests
OF one OF their number are jeOpardiZei.
COMMON CAUSE
In the present case, the Venezuela quar-
~ with Great Britain paTtakes OF 4
personal character. so far a. the spanish
American republics are concerned. They
contend that the Urulna affair is mere
incident connected with repeated viola
tons or the Monroe doctrine Of which
Great Britain has been guilty in Nene-
zuela for half a century. and conspicu-
ously during the last decade or moro.
Great Britain. it is asserted. IL in the
present instance testing the sincerity OF
the United States with reference TO the
Monroe doctrine. and IS using the CrGana
incident a pretext to force the hand
o. The United states
No hint is given by Secretary Olney or
any State Department officials as TO the
course which this country VIII pursue
with reference to Great Britain's ultima
tum. nor from present Indications Is any
likely to be given.
1t is not likely that blockade by Great
Britain Of Nenezuela's ports would en-
able the former country 10 collect an
indemnity, however small During the oc-
cupat.on Of COrnto by the British last
spring foreign vessels were warned from
entering the port. and none appeared
there. not even the steamers Of the Pacific
Mail Line. which regularly touch at Corin-
to on their periodical trips between Pana-
ma and San Francisco.
T. Venezuela should prove stubborn and
decline to pay an indemr;ty, 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 ma oin.ain
their national dignity and self-respect.
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