New-York tribune., 1902-12-16
REGRET BOMB4RDWENI. L.
No Cause for Protest Yet Found 6y
WASHINGTON Officials.
tBy The Associated PressD

Washington, Dec. I5.-Mnster Bowen has
confirmed the press reports to the effect that
the guns of the allied fleet which bombarded
Porto Cabello yesterday were directed entirely
at the fortifications. and not at the town. Re-
grettable as il was, this statement relieves the
affair of the first suspicion that it constituted
violation of International law, in the fact that
twenty-four hours notice not served of the
bombardment. The requirement as to notice
APPLIES 20 unfortifed or fortified towns where
the fire must be directed on the inhabitants. and
this was not the case at Porto CabellO. so that,
while the officials here regret that the firing took
place. they have as yet no cause to protest But
il is now proba BILE that the United States VIII
break its attitude OF inactivity in the event that
an attempt is made to enforce the peaceful
blockade" toward an American ship. When the
allies were considering the ways and means OF
bringing Venezuela TO terms. and blockade OF
this character had been decided upon, the Ger
man Government informed the United States
that when the blockade was established 1t would
turn back all shipping, although effort would
be made to seize the ships. The United States
Government made no response to this statement
the time 0ast year,, not feeling called upon to
do so before the presentation of an actual case.
But now that the blockade is sought to be estab-
lshed, Secretary Hay las informed the German
Government that American ships should not be
interfered with in their trading. unless the in
hibition applies to all shipping, and the note fur
ther intimates disapproval of stoppage at all
TEST CASE MAY COME UP SOON.
In so doing the State Department is following
a precedent for in the effort Of the Powers to
establish peaceful blockade of Crete in 1896
Secretary Sherman formally recorded a refusal
to be bound by it It happened that no Anleri-
ship had occasion to enter Cretan port
l,1--
force. SO the issue not made then, but in the
present case, with regular lines of American
steamers entering Venezuelan ports at short in
tervals a test case must soon follow. 1t is with
in the legal right of the allies to close these
ports but probably this can be accomplished
without protest part only after formal
declaration Of war. The hope is growing here
that such declaration can after all. be avoid
ed, owing TO the energy with which Mr. Bowen
has acted The proposal Of President Castro TO
the allied powers for peaceful settlement was
suggested by Mr.. Bowen, and it came to the
State Department through his hands It was
forwarded to London and Berlin through the
embassies here. and both Great Britain and
Germany have heretofore professed desire
to settle the issue peaceably. 1t is hoped that
they will avail themselves of this opportunity
The proposal did not mention the method of ar
bitration, nor the limitations and the point of
AONpl Hi4ISA may prevent acceptance or the
scheme is believed to be Castro's unwillingness
to bind himself in advance to the recognition
Of the principle of liability. He would leave the
arbitrators to determine whether or not he ia
liable at all
1t has developed that the reason for the delay
in the consideration of Presidents Castros
proposal to arbitrate the dispute with Great
Britain and Germany was the absence from
London Of Lord Lansdowne, the British Minis
ter for Foreign Affairs. That official spends
Saturday and Sunday of each week at his coun-
try place, and does not allow any brsness to
interfere with his rest 1t appears that this
proposition had more than a perfunctory in
dorsernent by the United States Government
Mr.. Bowen having asked permission to erdeavor
to settle the matter by arbitration, Secretary
Hay not only promptly granted the perrnis-
sion but went to the length of himself dis
patching the proposal. which up TO that point
had been rather vague and Informal to the
British and German governments.
ITALY MAKES INQUIRIES.
The Italian Ambassador. Signor MAYER des
Planches. called at the State Department to-
day to make inquiries TO the attitude of this
government in the event that the Italian Gov
ernment presses for a settlement of it's claims
against Venezuela. It appears that the italian
desires are not by any means comprehensive
or the demands so stiff as in the of Great
Britain Germany, but the details could not
be learned
The South and Central American diplomatic
representatives here in state of anxiety
which finds expression in frequent calls at the
State Department for information. No less than
six ministers were among Secretary Hays visi-
tors to-day, although this was not diplomatic
reception day. Secretary Hay was in confer
ence at the White House for short time with
the President regarding Venezuelan affairs SEN
ator Cullom and Representative Hit the heads
OF the two committees Foreign Affairs n
Congress, also the President but tt was
said that little attention given to Venezuela
Among Senators and Representatives who
have discussed the Venezuelan matter with
President Roosevelt the situation is regarded as
serious, but il is not generally believed TO he
likely that the United States will become in
VOWED IN the controversy
GASTRn,S SPEECH AT napAnAc