The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-29
VENEZUELA MUST PAY.

If the people of Venezuela are rely
ing upon the United States to pre-
vent Germany from blockading her
ports and collecting duties on imports
they will find they are mistaken. The
United States have a strong squadron
of warships off the Venezuelan coast
for the purpose of protecting
their own interests, and to see
that the Monroe doctrine is
not violated, but they do not
intend to interfere with Germany in
her efforts to collect the claims which
her citizens have against Venezuela
In fact, Germany has assurances from
our government that it will not inter-
fere with her so long as she does not
attempt to permanently occupy Vene-
zuelan territory.
We do not see on what ground ven-
ezuelans expect the United States to
interfere in their behalf They have
no use for the United States when they
are not in trouble with a European
Power. 1t is true that in 1885 the
United States interfered to prevent
England from grabbing Venezuelan
territory. and insisted that the dispute
about the boundary between English
and Venezuelan territory should be
submitted to arbitration To this Eng
land agreed. though for time 1t looked
as If there might be war between this
country and Great Britain. The ground
Of interference was that Great Britain
was trying to grab Venezuelan terri
tory. and that that was contrary to
the Monroe doctrine.
Germany has no intention to take
+ Venezuelan territory. 1t is probable
that she will occupy the ports of Ven
eEuela and hold them until she col
lects the claims of her citizens. That
may take two or three years. Vene-
xuela, however, may make a settle
ment With her much sooner.
1t is probable that Venezuela is not
financially able to comply with Ger
many's demands at this time. That is
her fault, however. The claims have
been pending for a number of years
and she has never shown any DISPOSE
ton to pay them. 1t is probable that
she does not intend to pay them if she
can avoid doing so.
And just now she has a revolution
on her hands. That is nothing new
for her, however. She has had eleven
revolutions in the last eighty years and
four in the last four years. In fact,
the present one is the fifth within four
years. The revolution complexities the
situation greatly. 1t makes it almost
impossible to get the people to act in
respect to Germany's claims. They
will have to get together, however, and
put down the revolution and set up a
government that can deal with the
trouble which Germahy's demand pre-
sents. If they cannot do this it is time
they admitted their unfitness for self
government. ne
1t is Germany's plan to close Vene-
zuelan ports and starve the people into
making a settlement with her OF her
right to do this there is no doubt. 1t
is what any other strong nation would
do under similar circumstances.
The United States, Great Britain
| and France have war ships off the
coast of Venezuela for the purpose of
watching the situation. Each nation
is looking out for its own interest
Complications may arise that will call
for interference from the United States
or from some one of the European
Powers. The United States and Ger
many may become involved in a quar-
rel, growing out of some act of Ger
many's in connection with the latter's
occupation of the Venezuelan ports.
The danger of any thing of the kind,
however, is quite remote.
If Venezuela thinks that the United
States are going to assist her in avoid
ing the payment of her debt to Ger
man citizens she is mistaken. She
must pay, and the wisest thing for
her to do is to settle her revolution
promptly. and set about arranging to
pay Germany. If she persists in refus-
ing to pay she will have a pretty rough
time of it. Germany will show her no
more mercy than was shown China
when the bills for damages, growing
out of the Boxer troubles, were made
out.