New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
TIE VENEZUELAN CRISIS.

Troubles accumulate upon the head of Presi-
dent Castro. His campaign against Colombia
faiis, or ar any rate does not succeed He is
confronted with formidable revolt In his own
Iand- de is. moreover. menaced with coercive
action on the part Of various European powers
for the forcible collection Of debts long due
This last mentioned is the latest and most seri-
Gus Of the Venezuelan autocrat's inducements
The claims of France, il is said, may be ad-
5usted without trouble. But Germany is urgent
and menacing. Her wsrships are gathering
near Venezuelan ports, and she is evidently pre-
pairing blockade if not an actual temporary
seizure Of the latter until such time as the salts
faction of her claims shall be assured Pres-
dent Castro maintains defiant front and may
be so infatuated as TO try to resist German
force with force. 1t is pretty evident, however
that his chief reliance is upon external succor
He apparently hopes that the United States will
intervene for his protection under the Monroe
Doctrine" or that the large foreign commercial
interests at Venezuelan ports will serve as a
barrier against German aggression
Such hopes are probably quite vain The atti-
tude OF the United States is no doubt the de-
cisire factor in the problem If It does not In
tervene, no other country will. II il should in.
tervene. no other would stand against It. At
present Its intentions are not disclosed but its
very proper massing Of a naval force In the
Caribbean superior TO that Of any other power
shows that II is fully awake to the situation and
means TO be prepared for anything that may
occur Neither are Germany's intentions dis
closed, nor mas the nature OF the understanding
between Germany and the United States been
revealed. What is Of supreme significance. how
ever. is the fact-it seems to be fact-that
satisfactory understanding between these two
does exist. There is no reason to suppose thar
the United States will stand in the way Of a
proper satisfaction of whatever lust claims Ger
many may have against Venezuela, and GER
tainly none TO fear that Germany will pursue
measures offensive 10 the United States. Much
sensational stuff. of interested inspiration. has
been published about Germany's deep. dark and
desperate designs upon the shores OF the Carib-
bean hostile TO the United States. But IL should
be obvious 70 even the most superficial intelli
sence that TO quarrel with the United States. or
TO give this country just ground for complaint.
is about the last thing in the world that Ger
many wants TO do. Ii is not a question Of one
nation being 3fraid of the other 1t is a ones
ton Of international ties. OF blood of commerce
and OF interests In general being too strong n
permit for moment anything like serious
estransement.
AS 10 the Monroe Doctrine. which is invoked
by some with more vociferation than discretior
we cannot perceive that II is in serious danger
of involvement. That venerable and benehcent
instrument forbids the colonization-forc;h,v
through conquest of course-of the American
continents by any European power 1t does not
appear that Germany has any thought OF colo
mixing venezuein. Also the doctrine forbids anv
interposition for the purpose Of depressing or
OF controlling the destinies of the American re.