The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-17
Circulation Statement.
Our Invasion of Venezuela.

diately backs down from the position her
Government has taken in relation to She
Asphalt Trust, an armed invasion of the
country VIII be ordered and executed
within the next ten days. The excuse
for such threatened action is that
American interests must be protected
against acts Of the LEGAL sovereign State:
but this does net exactly describe the
casus beIli- In reality II Is one Ameri-
can interest. which Venezuela is endeav-
oring TO protect, against the pretensions
OF another American interest. which is
being backed by the Administration at
Washington
Some time ago the New York and Ber-
mudez Company, q branch of the great
Asphalt Trust. secured concessions from
the Venezuelan Government 10 WORK Ger
tain deposits Of asphalt near. but ac-
cording 10 the Caracas authorities Let
including. those of Lake Felicidad. The
latter, some time after, we're leased TO
another American company. When it at
tempted TO take possession it found the
trust in control and operating its con-
cession- On resorting to the Venezuelan
Government Tor relief steps were taken
by the State TO eject the trust from The
asphalt territory 1t was ,leId to have
usurped. Being extremely solid in Wash
ington. and generous campaign contrib
utur, the trust al once asked the Admin
istration 10 coerce cur little sister Re
public into such a surrender TO the no
nop0ly as would be considered usual and
customary in this country, but might be
America
Readers Of The Times are familiar with
the progress Of the affair during the past
weeks Three war vessels we're sent TO
La Guayra, and, for a time it was under
stood that. should Venezuela attempt to
use force against the Asphalt Trust. ma
Tines and bluejackets would be landed
and marched TO the Iatter's assistance.
This design as We have previously ex-
planned, seemed to be abandoned or sus-
pended in view OF adverse public criti-
cism- The leading journals Of the country
expressed IN vigorous language very seri-
Gus doubts OF the right Of President Nc
KinIey 10 make war upon foreign e-un-
try for the purpose of adjudicating a con-
troversy between two American syndi-
NdLt5- VI ibA HOi ciA4D4G5s ~ q NDA VI D1E
OF them. Vi ct arms. But the plan OF
armed Intervention appears TO have been
revived.
This change Of base seems 10 result
from conditions in Venezuela which serve
TO complieate the situation The Caracas
Government has seized two steamers on
the Orinoeo River. intending to use them
against reYolutionist5 under ex-President
Andrade. who are operating in the neigh
borhood Of the disputed asphalt territory
There Is a suspicion in high quarters here
that The real intention is 10 utilize them
in an attempt 10 seize the arms and militia
~ supplies which the Asphalt Trust has
gathered for the purpose Of resisting the
local sovereignty. Perhaps from the Ven
ezueian point OF view, 5he trust and the
political rebellions come 10 the same thing.
Il is worth remembering that Andrade was
the chief Of state from whom the trust
obtained its concessions. and it is alto
gether probable that he would If again
placed in power. assume that they covered
Lake Felicidad. So. the idea in Caracas
may be that the trust is behind the An
drade iusurrection, though that hypothesis
10 doubt does great injustice TO a high
minded as well as a high-handed American
monopoly
Our gunboat Scorpion has been ordered
70 Gusnaco. where the steamers probably
can be intercepted. and its commander has
Instructions to land his forces il necessary.
but 10 avoid bloodshed if possible. In the
meantime il is said 10 be in contempla-
ton to despatch me three bat;Ieships
Kearsarge. Massachusetts, and Alabama. 10
Ia Guayra. in case the Venezuelan Gov
ernmeut does not al once come 10 terms
with The trust These great ships together
carry q complement OF men sufficiently
large 10 form landing party formidable
enough 10 overcome any opposition which
the Venezuelans probably could offer. Ger
tainly it is out Of the question that the
small and weak state invaded could hope to
make head against the forces Of the
American battleships. cooperating with
those Of the trusc and the Audrade rebels
There Is perhaps more than a chance
that actual hostiIities may be averaed by
the mere fact Of Venezuela's heIplessness.
But, on the other hand, the Government
and party now in power in the State may
reason that a combination exists TO put
Andrade again in control OF the country
under the auspices Of the trust. backed
by the United States. and that, hence.
they might as well die fighting as to
submit 10 being kicked out, without it..
The difficulty is one which is likely TO
develop some interesting questions Of in
ternationaI morals and ethics, if not OF
international law