The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-06-18
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
It May Again Lead Us Into In
ternational Complications.
GERMAN VENEZUELAN INTERESTS.

They May be Used . subterfuge for
Acquiring an Island on the Coast, and
This Would Call for Interference by
Uncle Sam.
WASHINGTON, June 1s.-There is reason
to believe that the United States govern
ment will have occasion at no distant day
to give another Interpretation of the Mon
rec doctrine as applicable to the acquisi'
tion of an island off the coast OF Venezu-
ella to DO used by Germany for naval sta
ton. Tho attention of officials recently
has been directed to the interests of Ger
many in that locality, and there is appre-
tension that the subject may assume quite
as formidable an aspect as that of British
aggression on Venezuelan soil.
An enormous amount of German capital
has been invested in Venezuela of late I'M
der peculiar circumstances. The govern.
ment wanted a railroad through rich
and productive valley, and a German syn
dictate stood ready to build the road on
condition that Venezuela would guaran-
tee per cent. on the capital invested.
The guarantee was given and the road
completed and put into operation about
eight months ago.
1t was supposed that about 81 ,00O, 900
would amply cover the cost of the road,
but the actual outlay reached about S.
100000 BY the terms of the guarantee
Venezuela now becomes responsible to
the German syndicate for per cent. re-
turn on this 5000, 600. The road has not
been in operation long enough to deter
mine what 1t will earn, but its most
sanguine promoters do not hope that it
will pay per cent. on the outlay. What
ever it earns will be applied on the invest
ment, and Venezuela then will have to
give sufficient to bring the earnings up to
per cent.
. 1t is said to be this and similar German
interests that are inclining the German
government to regard with favor the &c
QUESTION of an island of the Venezuela
coast to be used as naval station, and as
a sort of base of operations for Germany
on the American continent, The guaran-
tee Of Venezuela to the German syndicate
is of u private character the German gov
eminent having no interest in the mat
ter, but 1t is looked upon as affording a
convenient means by which the govern
ment in giving protection to its citizens
could also carry out it's desires for the ac-
quis.tion of a naval station.
The circumstances are such as to lead to
the belief that the United States will be
called upon again to define to what ex-
tent the acquisition of territory by foreign
powers on South American soil, is COM
patible with the Monroe doctrine.
Great Britain already possesses an island
at the mouth of tho Orinoco on which a
powerful naval station has been estab-
1ished. There are two other islands near
by, owned by Venezuela, either of which
would be well adapted to Gernany's
needs. There is another large island fur
Their up the coast, but it constitutes a
province of Venezuela, and its people have
such intense loyalty to Venezuela that
they have been named new Spartans."
They undoubtedly would resist any sep
aration, even If Venezuela assented to it.
At the moment that this German phase
of the Venezuelan question is making its
appearance the British branch of the sub
ject is presenting more favorable aspect.
Official intelligence has recently reached
here that Sir Vincent Darlington, repre-
senting the most extensive British inter-
ests in Venezuela, has most strongly
urged upon the British government the
Importance of an amicable settlement
with Venezuela as a means of protecting
British Investments in that country. Since
the withdrawal of the British minister at
Venezuela as a result of the boundary
trouble Sir Vincent Darlington has stood
as the representative of Britain in that
country.