New-York tribune., 1902-12-12
VFEEZTEL4'S PENALTY.

The state Of affairs in Venezuela is anomalous.
though not unprecedented. There is no ade-
quate description Of it in terms of international
law II is not war, for there has been no dec
laration thereof, nor was there at the beginning
any general assumption Of belligerent attitude
Neither is it peace, for two powers are invad
ing with force and arms the territory of a third
and are exercising constraint upon the latter
We cannot imagine that there is desire for
war on the part Of any of the three, and yet
not one Of them observes the essential usages
of peace. Perhaps the most ominous feature
of the situation is the resolution and aggressive
ness displayed by all three parties, in circum-
stances in which resolution may degenerate
into obstinacy and aggressiveness into quarrel
someness That cause for irritation exists is
not to be denied. But sovereign States. holding
within their hands the issues of international
peace or war, need stronger pretext for action
than mere irritation.
In point of amount the German claims against
Venezuela form the chief factor in the contro
versy. They are larger and older than the
English claims. They are Of three classes. and
of from two to six years standing. Indeed we
are not sure that some of them are not much
older than six years TO wit, those preferred by
German merchants for losses in Venezuelan in
surrections There are also claims for indem-
nifty for losses suffered in the civil wars of the
last three or four years, and finally arrears of
interest on a railroad loan placed by German
English and French capitalists in 1896 The
Venezuelan Government is understood to admit
the validity of the first and second classes,
though we are not sure that it is satisfied with
the justice Of the amount demanded. and 1t GER
tainly seems inclined to postpone indefinitely
the time Of payment. The last named claims it
is understood to repudiate responsibility for
declaring that as the loan was made not to the
government. but to private parties, the claim
ants should seek relief in the civil courts of
Venezuela.
We have said that the spirit of conciliation
seems to be conspicuously lacking all around
1t is the German habit to use what the EN-
peror calls the mailed fist in dealing with in
ferior countries One example of it was seen
I'm China, in the seizure of Kiao-Chau Another
was seen in the summary sinking of Haytian
gunboat not many weeks ago. The present ag-
gressve conduct toward Venezuela is exactly
of piece with those performances. 1t is the
German way Great Britain has acted in the
same manner too, on some former occasions,
and it is not unreasonable to suppose she is all
the more ready to do so now because of the re-
cent irritation which she suffered over the Ven
ezuea-Guiapa boundary dispute. 1t was only
human nature that she did not enjoy having to
| yield even the least bit OF her claims TO Ven-
| ezuela, and il is only human nature that she
| should now enjoy getting even" in q some
what summary manner. Such passions move
| the celestial minds OF governments as well as
| OF goddesses-even of the government Of the
United States The present method of exacting
| satisfaction for Venezuela may seem TO be- and
indeed, may be, violation Of the International