New-York tribune., 1901-12-31
FRIENDLY WITH GERMANY
THE ADMINISTRATION MAY STERNLY
REBUKE INSTIGATORS OF MALL
CIOUS GOSSIP
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. ]


Washington, Dec. 30-Nothing more mis-
chievous has recently occurred to vex the ad-
minlstTdtion than the persistent circulation of
reports alleging the existence of some anxiety
among Washington officials over the strained
relations between Germany and Venezuela
growing out of the latter's repudiation of in
debtedness to German subjects. These publ
cations, while perhaps not maciousy intended
to affect the extremely cordial friendship of the
United States and Germany, have nevertheless
been traced to an ordinarily insignificant but
st present noisy, If small, element in the navy
which rests under the mistaken notion that such
agitation will promote naval appropriations
through the roundabout method of exciting
fresh water Congressman to bursts of patriotic
generosity. Mature naval officers, constitut-
ing the great majority in the service vehement
ly discountenance this falacious policy of crying
wolf when there is no conceivable cause for
alarm, and it can be positively said, and may
turn out to be quickly proved that the highest
authority of the administration not only depre-
Gates the misguided gossip. but resents it in a
manner that is on the point Of provoking
stern rebuke 10 the instigators of the nonsense.
THE ADMINISTRATION SATISFIED.
The administration is perfectly satisfied with
the intentions of Germany and confident that no
contingency will arise out of German action IN
South America that can affect the strong friend
ship of that nation and the United States. The
attitude of the President in this matter even in
advance of the perfect understanding now
established and to be maintained by the United
States and Germany made unequivocaI in
his strong treatment of the Monroe Doctrine in
his last annual message There after announc-
ing the acquiescence of The Hague Peace Con-
ference IN our statement Of the Monroe Doe
trine, he declared with undIsguised significance:
The Monroe Doctrine Is a declaration that
there shall be territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT by
any non-American power at the expense of any
American power American soil. 1t is in no
wise intended hostile to any nation in the
Old World Still less is it intended to give cover
to any aggression by one New World power at
the expense Of any other. 1t Is simply a step.
and long step. toward assuring the universal
peace OF the world by securing the possibility
OF permanent peace on this hemisphere.
We do not ask under this doctrine for any ex-
elusive commercial dealings with any other
American State. We do not guarantee any State
against punishment If it misconducts itself pro-
vided that punishment does not take the form
OF the acquisition of territory by any Hon-Amer-
lean power.
GERMAN PLANS FRANKLY STATED
Since this latest emphatic reiteration OF a |
policy enunciated seventy-eight years ago. it is
notable that Germany is the first Of the Euro
pean nations to come promptly and frankly for
ward and give it's formal positive adhesion to
the great American principle, coupled with con-
elusive assurances Of respecting IT in the full
letter and spirit The German Ambassador DIR |
Won HoHeben, has acquainted the President and
the Secretary Of State with every detail of the
German claim against Venezuela. and has been
at great pains to ascertain to what extent Ger
many may go to secure settlement without !
mourning any displeasure on the part of the |
United States. All the contingencies which are
apt to arise In the collection of the sums due |
have been thoroughly canvassed, and so far as |
the Washington administration is concerned
there does not seem to be the remotest poss-
bility Of a misunderstanding over the affair
Certainly. there is not the fantest apprehension |
that any occasion viii arise it, through re-
sistance which Venezuela NAV devise that |
promises any embarrassment to the United |
states The procedure in this instance is |
markedly more pleasant to this government |
than that preceding the occupation by Great |
Britain, in April 1895, of the Nicaraguan port |
or Cor1nto for the collection of an overdue in |
demnity. At that time the permission OF the |
United States was practically unasked IT, in |
fact, this government formally informed in |
advance. To-day, according to formal assur- |
ances already given and implicitly relied unon
Germanys plans are to send a squadron to !
Venezuelan ports land marines seize the cus- |
tom houses and hold them until revenue equal |
TO the S2.HopD owed by the Venezuelan Gov |
ernment to German subjects shall have heen COL |
lected. Furthermore, the German Government !
Will under no circumstances attempt to acouire |
any territory 70 hold any territory havop5 tbat
embraced by the custom houses Even thIs av
ercise of force is contingent upon VenezueIa;s |
stubborn refusal to settle after n reasonable |
time following the arrival Of the German Naet |
at Venezuelan port.
SQUADRON ON IT'S USUAL CRUISE
Unwarranted Importance and meaning have
been attributed in some quarters to the presencA |
of Admiral Higginsons powerful squadron Of |
battleships at this time in Southern waters The
Kearsarge. the Alabama and the Massachusetts
have been testing the practical utility and stra-
tegic value of Culebra Island the new naval |
outpost close to the Danish West Indies and |
straight across the Caribbean from the Ven |
ezuelan coast. The home squadron which is /
at present composed of these vessels, is on it's |
customary winter drill cruise in the West Indies
"a cruise that is invariably made at this time |
of the year. and which has relation whatever
to the Venezuelan complication. That Germany |
does not regard this fleet n menace in the |
slightest degree is conspicuously shown by the |
fact that the German vessels near and to |
be sent TO Venezuela small cruisers and |
training ships aggregating altogether less often
sive force than a single of the three Ameri-
can battleships in the neighborhood. One of the |
largest of the German force charged with col !
lecting the Venezuelan money is the cruiser Ca |
zelle reported to be leaving Kiel to-day. She |
is 2.SOo ton ship. about the size OF the May
flower. and armed with ten finch guns and |
sny,n I ,nd1