Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-12-13
ULTIMATUMS TO CASTRO
Esgisnd and Germany TO Take Measures
to Force Their Claims.
LEGATIONS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
Premier Balfour's Announcement In the House
Of Commons Is Regarded as Merely the
Obvious elimination TO the Situation
which Daily Has Been Becoming More
Critical for Three Months.

London (By Cable).-Great Britain
and Germany have presented ultima
funis to Venezuela. which will be fol-
lowed by the seizure OF the custom
houses unless a satisfactory settlement
IS forthcoming within a brief period
The ultimatums have time limit
but the exact date cannot be ascertain
ed here. 4 representative of the For
eign Office states. with regard to the
time limit:
1T is reasonable time III which
Venezuela can satisfy the injured Gov
ernmcntS Both notes are practically
identical. although the amounts OF the
claims differ The notes merely reit-
crate the continued disregard by the
Venezuelan Government of all our rep
reservations. specify our claims and de
E,and imms diatc action ON the part OF
President CastroS Government in con
nection with them.
There is not the slightest desire to
cocrce Venezuela. and il any answer
had been made 10 our repeated protests
and demands no such action as now
tdkCn WOulu Have USOH pIoOCCuCu WILL
II was the persistent and insulting dis
regard OF all representations which
compelled us 10 move. Now ii is TOO
late Tor anything but purely diplomatic
arrangements Ia be accepted III salts
faction for our injuries. When the
fleets have assembled there is scarcely
time to deal with bankers. A financial
settlement should have been suggested
long ago and would have been welcom-
ed by both Germany and ourselves.
However. any bona fide proposition
will receive careful attention. Recon
struction i'll commercial affairs is al
ways better than liquidation. and il the
reconstruction oi the Venezuelan fl
.lances can be accomplished to the sat
isfaction OF our diplomatic claims and
individual losses. both Germany and
Great Britain will have achieved their
ends
A complicating circumstance has
arisen i'll the inability OF the Foreign
Office to communicate with its Minis
Ter i'll Venezuela. w II. ID. Haggard.
The Foreign Office is hourly awaiting
important dispatches. While the Gov
eminent is worried at its inability to
get an answer from Minister Haggard.
inquiries revealed the TACT that the Ven
-ezuclan representatives are in similar
situation
Premier Baliour announced the ulti-
matum in the House OF Commons.
When questioned on the situation by the
Liberal Leader. Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman. he said:
For the last two years we have had
grave cause Tor complaint on various
occasions OF unjustiiable interference
by the Venezuelan Government with
the liberty and property oi British sub
jects. No efforts have been spared by
the British Government to obtain an
amicable settlement oil these cases. but
in none OF them have satisfactory ex-
plantations been forthcoming. Latterly
the representations OF the British Min
lister have been practically unnoticed.
There are also cases in which British
subjects and companies have large
claims.
I'VE have been acting i'll conjunction
with the German Government. which
also has large claims against Venezuela
A final communication has been made
70 the Venezuelan Government by the
British Minister and the German
charge d'affaires. Ii no satisfactory re-
ply is received the Governments have
decided to take such measures as may
be necessary TO enforce their claims