Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-16
ASKED TO EXPLAIN.
Secretary Hay Sends Notes to
 Germany and England.
PUERTO CABELLOACTION IN QUESTION
The Powers Also Notified That This Government VIII Not Remain Passive if Rights of Ameri-
 can Ships Are MoIested.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Secretary Hay, after a conference with President Roosevelt has written note to Ger many and England, asking for an ex- planation of the bombardment of the forts at Puerto CabeIlo. The note in- quires what is expected to be gained by this action
 In view of the fact that warship of Great Britain assisted in the lombard ment of the forts it is regarded as very significant.
 It is known that the policy outlined 10 the United States by Great Britain and Germany did not contemplate the bombardment of any Venezuelan forts and at the most was to be peaceful blockade of the ports.
 Chairman Hit of the committee on foreign affairs of the house is opposed to favorably reporting any of the reso- lutions regarding Venezuela which have been introduced. He believes that should the Shafroth resolution be fa- vorably reported it would result in all European governments looking to the United States as the guarantor of the 0CUlo OI oOuIu d1o SCALl0 a14O4 ASGlA states.
 Secretary Hay has notified the gov ernments of Germany and Great Brit ain that the administration will not re main impassive in Venezuela if the rights of American ships are interfered with.
 The German government informed the United States that when the block ade was established it would turn back all shipping, though no effort would be made to seize the ships. The United States government made no response to this statement at the time Qast year., not feeling called upon to do so before the presentation of an actual case.
 But now that the blockade is sought to be established Secretary Hay has informed the German government that American ships should not be inter- fered with in their trading except the inhibition applies to all shipping, and, further, the note intimates disap- proyal of stoppage at all. In so doing the state department is following a precedent, for during the efforts of the powers to establish peaceful block ade'' of Crete in 1896 Secretary Sher- man formally recorded refusal to be bound by it.
 It happened that no American ship had occasion to enter Cretan port during the brief period of time the blockade was in force, so the issue was not made then, but in the present case, with regular lines of American steam CTS entering Venezuelan ports at short intervals, test case must soon fOllcW. It is within the legal right of the allies to close these ports.
 But probably this can be accom- plished without protest on our part on ly after formal declaration of war. The hope is growing here that such a declaration can, after all, be avoided owing to the energy with which Mir. Bowen has acted. The proposal of President Castro to the allied powers for a peaceful settlement was suggest ed by Mr. Bowen, and it came to the state department through his hands.
 It has been forwarded to London and Berlin through the embassies here, and as both Great Britain and Ger many have heretofore professed a de- sire to settle the issues peaceably it is hoped that they will avail themselves of this opportunity.