Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-18
NOW IT is GERMANY
That Is Monkeying with the
Monroe Buzz Saw.
WANTS AN ISLAND OF VENEZUELA

SO That the Kaiser Can Look After tho
Interests of the FatherIand at Closer
Range-"liat Those Interests Are
British Phase Of the Matter Becoming
Less Aeute--An Indian Whose Word IL
rs Good ns Gilt-Edge Bond.
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.
roe doctrine as applicable to the acquisi.
tion Of an island off the coast of Vcnezu.
ella to be used by Germany for a naval
station. The attention Of officials recently
has been directed to the interests Of Ger
many in that locality, and there is appre-
bcnsion that the subject may assume
quite Us formidable an aspect as that of
British aggression on Venezuelan soil.
An enormous amount of German capital
has been invested in Venezuela of late
under peculiar circumstances. The gov.
ernEent wanted railroad through q rich
and productive valley, and German syn
iicatc stood ready to build the road on
condition that Venezuela would guaran-
tee ? per cent. on the capital invested.
German Part OF the Contract Completed.
The guarantee was given and the road
completed and put into operation about
eight months ago. At the outset it was sup
posed that about si,000,OO0 would. amply
cover the cost of the road, but the actaal
outlay reached about sS,00O,00O. By the
terms OF the guarantee Venezuela now
becomes responsible to the German syndi-
cate for u z per cent. return on this S.
CJ0,Oo0. The road has not been in opera
ton long enough to determine what it
will earn, but its most sanguine pro-
motors do not hopo thnt it will pay 2 per
cent. on the outlay. Whatever it earns
will be applied on tho investment and
Venezuela will then have to give sufficient
to bring the earnings up to 7per cent.
1t is said to be this and similar German
interests that are inclining the German
government to regard with favor tho
acquisition of an island off the Venezuelan
coast to be used as a naval station and as
n sort of n base of operations for Germany
on the American continent
Where Uncle Samuel Comes In.
The guarante, Of Venezuela to the Ger
man syndicate is Of n private character,
the German government having no inter
est in the matter; but it is looked upon as
afforling convenient means by which
the government. in giving protection to
It's citizens, could also carry out its desire
for tho acquisition of naval station. The
circumstances are such us to lead to the
belief that the United States will again
be called upon to define to what extent
tho acquisition of territory by foreign
powers on South American soil is COM
patiblc with the Monroe doctrine Great
Britain already possesses an island ut tho
mouth of the Orncco. on which power
full naval station has been established.
There are two other islands near by,
owned by Venezuela, either of which
would lc well adapted to Germany's 3
needs.
British Interests in Venezuela.
At tho moment that this German phase
Of the Venezuelan question is making its
appearance tho British branch of the sub.
jcct IS presenting more favorable as.
pcct. Sir Vincent Darlington. represent.
ing the mos; extensive British interests
in Venezuela, has most strongly urged
upon the British government the i'm
voriancc OF an nmicnblo settlement with
NcncZucia rs II means of protecting Brit
ish Investments in that country. Sir
Vincent is at the hcad Of the syndicate Of
London capitalists who built the railroad
from Caracas u La Guyara and an artifi'
cial har5 r with brcakwators ana stone
wharvcs ut La Guyara ut a cost Of sew
oral millions.