The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-30
GERMANY EXPLAINS
TO THE PRESIDENT
ATTITUDE TO VENEZUELA DEFINED
No Intention of Acquiring Territory,
the kaiser Declares, Through
His Observation-Disclosures
of Debts Only Idea.

All doubt as to the purpose of Ger
many toward Venezuela has been remov-
ed by a frank and unqualified statement
conveyed 10 President Roosevelt and Sec
retary Hay by Herr Won HoIIeben, the
German Ambassador. Having ascertained
the views OF the President and the Sec
retary Of State as to how far Germany
might go in an attempt TO compel Vene-
zuela to pay her obligations to German
subjects, Herr Won Holleben informed the
imperial authorities at Berlin and waited
for further Instructions These have
been received and carried out
BY direction of his Government, the
Ambassador has made frank statement
to AIr. Roosevelt and Mr.. Hay of the
plans Of Germany to bring Venezuela 10
terms, and, as a distinct promise that
there will be no violation of the Monroe
Doctrine has teen given, the United States
viii not inter fere.
To Seize the Customs Houses
Germany's plans, according to the state
ment conveyed by Herr Won HoIleben- are
to send a squadron to Venezuelan ports,
land marines. seize the customs houses
and hold them until revenue equal to the
81, 600. 600 owed by the Venezuelan Govern
ment TO German subjects shall have been
collected. According TO Herr yon Hole
ben's assurances, his Government viii.
under no circumstances. attempt TO ac-
quire any territory, or to hold any ter
ritory other than that embraced in tae
customs houses.
The promise that there shall be no ae-
QUESTION of territory has been made in
the most positive terms. While no official
statement to that effect is obtainable, il
| is learned that the Administration is sat
fsfed with Germany-s assurances. and has
no fear that any attempt will be made
| by the imperial Government TO obtain q
foothold in Venezuela.
No Absorption of Territory.
| President Roosevelt, with that en-
phatie and positive manner which is char
acteristie, has personally explained TO
| Herr Won HolIeben that this government
would not tolerate for an instant an a.
! tempt on the part OF any European power
/ to acquire territory on the Western Hem
! isphere Herr Won HoIIeben was given
/ 10 understand however. that while The
| United States Government did not look
with favor Oh attempts TO collect debts
| of individuals from small nations by a
display Of armed force. it was obliged to
! recognize that Germany and Venezuela
were sovereign States with whose dealing
! the United States had nothing 10 DO Mr.
! Roosevelt made it plain that the matter
was very delicate one and that any
| landing OF foreign troops on Venezuelan
| territory might be regarded with sus-
picion unless positive assurances that nc
! purpose that might infringe on the prin-
| cfpIe laid down by President Monroe were
conveyed in advance
| Nothing rs TO Arrival of Squadron
It was learned today that all informa-
/ ton as to Germany plans had been giver
! except as to the date the German squad
ron will reach Venezuelan waters 4 de-
mand viii first be made for the payment
Of the money due. and if this is inefec-
] tive, marines and seamen from the war
ships will be landed at La Guayra and
| probably at Maricaibo.
! This Government continues to deny en-
phaticaIIy that the movements Of Ameri-
can warships in the West Indies have any
| relation whatever 10 the trouble between
Germany and Venezuela
| a press cabiegrara from Berlin this aft
ernoon says that the German cruiser Ga
zeIIe has been ordered to leave KieI fol
Venezuela