The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-18
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
It May Again Lead Us Into In
ternational Complications,
GERMAN VENEZUELAN INTERESTS.

They May he Used as a subterfuge for
Acquiring an Island or 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
roe doctrine as applicable to the acquisi-
tion Of an island off the coast of Venezu-
ella to be used by Germany for a naval sta
tion. The attention of officials recently
has been directed to the interests of Ger
many in that locality, and there is appre-
hension 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 un-
der peculiar circumstances. The govern
ment wanted railroad through rich
and productive valley, and German syn
dicate stood ready to build the road on
condition that Venezuela would guaraD-
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 100000
would amply cover the cost of the road,
but the actual outlay reached about SS,-
100000. BY the terms of the guarantee
Venezuela now becomes responsible to
| the German syndicate for per cent. re-
| turn on this IS, 100000. The road has not
| been in operation long enough to deter
mine what it 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 ac-
| QUESTION Of an island off the Venezuela
coast to be used as a 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 a private character, the German gov
ernment 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 its desires for the ac-
QUESTION 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 the Orinoco, on which a
powerful naval station has been estab-
lished. There are two other islands near
by, owned by Venezuela, either of which
would be well adapted to Germany's
needs. There is another large island fur
ther 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 a more favorable aspect
Official intelligence has recently reached
here that Sir Vincent harrington. 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 result of the boundary
trouble Sir Vincent Darlington has stood
as the representative of Britain in that
country.