Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-30
Object Of England and Ger
many in Venezuela.
FINAL SOVEREIGNTY
WHAT BOTH MONARCHIES ARE
AIMING TO SECURE.
How the Monroe Doctrine May Be
Brought Into Question-Belief
of Many Senators.

The game of diplomacy that England and
Germany are playing in Venezuela Is be-
lieved to involve very much more than the
collection of bad debts, in the opinion Of
senators who look beneath the surface Of
events to discover the incentive for action
by nations. As efforts for the collection Of
a debt frequently are forerunners Of fore
closure and ownership Of property, so the
events in Venezuela are regarded as merely
preceding a course that will have for It's
purpose the acquisition of all the powers of
sovereignty there by England and Ger
many, and the practical defiance of the
spirit of the Monroe doctrine. SO that for
all business purposes the leading mon
arches of Europe will enjoy sovereignty in
Venezuela. If that could be accomplished
by them, the entering wedge would have
been inserted which might be driven fur
ther and disrupt the entire Monroe doc
trine whenever the powers desiring 1t
should think the opportune time had ar
rived.
To Be Considered in Conferences.
When the Senate again reassembles this
phase of the Venezuelan question will be
considered very fully in private conferences.
The effect of such consideration cannot re-
suit in anything more than an increased
watchfulness Of the action Of England and
Germany. The main object to be achieved
in Venezuela at this time by them is de-
clared to be to secure concessions that
will permit the opening up of central South
America by railroad, making the coast OF
Venezuela the vantage point in all these
operations. Those who take this view of
the situation in South America believe that
the way England and Germany will ac-
complish these ends will be to seat in the
presidency in Venezuela some one who
will be tool for their purposes. Castro
now president, is of the liberal party, and
1t is said all the influence of the English
and Germans in Venezuela has been exert
ed for the support of what Is known as
the church party, and it is believed tnat.
IL possible, assistance will be given that
party by which it may come into control
with a president thoroughly in accord with
the wishes of the two European countries
now operating there.
If this course IS followed successfully the
entire argument favoring the Monroe doc
trine would be shown to the greatest disad-
vantage, it Is believed, to be possible to
show it. If England and Germany can by
any means not sufficiently tangible to call
forth protest from the United States sue
ceed in getting the acquescence Of the Ven
ezuelan government and congress In their
schemes, even If they amount to the exer-
else of practical sovereignty, and II no pro-
test came from Venezuela, 1t is said that the
United States would find 1t difficult to make
any assertion of the Monroe doctrine as
applying to that case
The Panama Canal.
There Is another and most important ele-
ment that enters into this consideration
which, 1t is believed, will come home to
vex the United States. And 1t Is believed
England and Germany are playing wait
ing game. and that the transfer Of their
present difficulties to an arbitration board
at The Hague will be an assistance to them
IN their purposes.
Pending that arbitration it is expected
the Panama canal problem will have been
solved and If it is accomplished by the
upholding OF the contention of this country
that 1t must have strip of territory along
the line of the canal in perpetuity. over
which 1t will exercise sovereignty, England
and Germany not having objected in the
meantime, will put forward the plea that
the action of the United States itself will.
to large extent, have nullifed the Monroe
doctrine. While the declaration carried by
that doctrine is that monarchical nations
of Europe shall not extend their sovereign
ty on the American continent. yet it's
salient feature has been declaration Of
"hands off, for all the world. including
this country But when the United States
does what it says England and Germany
shall not do the situation. 1t is believed.
will be very greatly changed OF course,
the United States at that time can make
any further declaration it sees fit to de-
fend. 1t might declare that it could do
/
1t might contend that as no protest had
been made in relation to it's action in ac-
quiring sovereignty over a strip Of land in
Colombia until it had accomplished it's
ends, a protest could not hold against it,
1t could in a broad sense adopt any course
It would be able and willing to defend.
The Real Aspect of the Case.
1t is exactly this aspect of the case that Is
regarded as most important by those who
are watching the events in relation to South
American affairs. If this situation should
be brought about and a dispute should arise
II is said the United States could not con-
sistently ignore request from England and
Germany for the submission to board OF
arbitration at The Hague of these ques-
ticns SO far as they might relate to facts
II that Is done IL is not seen how the Mon
roe doctrine could entirely be kept out OF
the dispute. OF course. the United States
would never consent to any arbitration OF
the Monroe doctrine. Public opinion has
been so far crystallized on that point that
the idea of ever arbitrating ii has never
even been considered. But 1t is asserted
that diplomacy sometimes draws questions
IN dispute which would never have been in
volved as separate propositions.
While the world Is discussing the course
OF England and Germany in the collection
of bad debts in Venezuela many senators
are looking deeper to find some other pur-
pose. and not few of them feel that only
by the greatest vigilance can trouble in the
future be averted. The proceedings thai
Will take place at The Hague are regarded
as only delay In the main game that l.
being played, and delay which would be-
absolutely necessary for the safest conduct
of the commercial efforts in South America
q a nd nd