Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-12-09
WAR MAY BE ON NOW
British and German Diplomats Present
Ultimatum to Venesuela.
MINISTERS BOARD FRIENDLY CRUISERS
Try to Collect Bills PeaOeably and Failing
Withdraw.
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT IGNORANT or STEP
Foreign Office Processes to Expect Surrender
NGlISH GOVERNMENT IGNORANT OF STEP
Foreign Office Processes to Expect Surrender
Without Hostile Acts.
SUPPOSE AMBASSADOR STILL AT CARACAS
Cable Freak Delays News and Clash
May Come without Home AuthorI-
ties Knowing that Demands
Are Finally Refused.

CARACAS, Dec. S-The British minister.
W. II. ID. Haggard and the German charge
daffaires. Herr Won Pilgrim -Baltazzl, left
Caracas at this afternoon for La Gauira,
where Mr.. Haggard boarded the British
cruiser Retribution and Herr Won Pilgrim
Baltazzi the German cruiser vineta. Both
legations have been closed.
Yesterday the British minister and the
German charge d'sffaires deposited at the
private residence OF the foreign minister.
Lopez Barralt, separate demands. The
British being for settlement of claims and
other matters arising from the last revo-
| luton, and the German for the payment OF
/ interest on the loan and other claims. The
demands are in the form OF an ultimatum.
but do not limit the time for an answer.
| Mr. Haggard took his secretary, Grant
Duff, and the chancellor OF the legation.
Mr.. Godfrey, with him to La Gaura, where
they were met by thirty officers.
Public Omces All Closed.
The ministers left Caracas without pre-
viously notifying the Venezuelan govern
ment. probably in order to avoid any hos
tile demonstration. Yesterday and today
being festivals in Caracas all the public
Offices are closed and Il is impossible to see
|
the unprecedented step Of handing in a de-
mand OF such a nature at a minister's prl-
vate residence.
The actual situation is incomprehenslble
here. as up to this morning no one appeared
90 know anything about the Anglo German
| projected demonstration.
The foreign minister said he considered
a menace on the part OF Germany inadmis-
slble and any threat would only be a feeler,
while England has no ground for agrees
sion.
Up to yesterday there were no prepara-
tions indicating that the ministers in
| tended to abandon their posts.
| The government has made no military
preparations, as Venezuelan citizens con-
sidered the threat OF a demonstration a
bluff and set aside the possibility Of an
Anglo German demonstration, but one of
the chief officers Of the German cruiser
| Xiueta told a German family at La ;Guaira
yesterday that a blockade of the coasts
was imminent.
Castro Wars in Words.
The papers here publish an open letter
from President Castro, in which he refuses
to believe that Britain and Germany have
allied themselves against his country. He
| claims to have acted fairly and squarely to-
| ward all nations and concludes:
Honorably 1 cannot do more. put honor
first and will not seek excuses to disarm
tions which would offend the dignity of the
| Venezuelan people and which are not in
TIE cause Of Of our national dignity is based
on our rights and our possession OF Justice
and on relations of friendship and
mutual respect with foreign nations
London is in Ignorance.
LONDON, Dec. S.-Great Britain and Ger
many have presented ultimatums to Venez-
uela which will lie followed by the seizure
Of the customs unless a satisfactory settle
ment is forthcoming
The ultimatums have no time limit, but
it is understood a speedy reply is expected.
The foreign office has issued an Official
statement as follows:
Both notes are practically IDENTICAL al
though the amounts claimed differ. The
notes merely relterate the continued dis
ali our representations, specify our claims
and demand immediate action on the part
of President Castro's government In con-
nection herewith
Should the British ultimatum meet with
a hostile reception the British minister. w.
II. d. Haggard, has been instructed to board
a British cruiser, but no such action is ex-
pected
Broken Cable COmplicates Things.
|
inability Of the foreign ofice to communi-
cate with Mr.. Haggard. ohicials here be-
lieve he is still in Caracas, but owing to
the teported breaking of the cable they
are ignorant es TO what steps he is taking.
or what the Venezuelan government intends
to do.
The foreign ONCE is hourly awaiting i'm
portant dispatches from Caracas, but up to
a late hour tonight none had arrived.
/ While the government is rather worried
} at its inability TO get an answer from Mr..
Haggard serious alarm is not felt, espe-
cially as the Venezuelan representatives
are in a similar situation.
In the meantime the foreign ONCE dis
claims any desire to coerce Venezuela, and
says 1t was only the persistent and insulting
, disregard for all representations which
compelled the present move.
An Official said tonight in this regard
1t is now too late in the day for any
thing but purely diplomatic arrangements.
When the fleets have assembled there is
financial settlement. which should have
been suggested long ago and would have
been welcomed by both Germany and our
tion will receive careful attention. Recon-
struction in commercial affairs is always
: better than liquidation, and II the recon-
| struction of the Venezuelan finances can
be accomplished to the satisfaction OF our
diplomatic claims and Individual losses.
both Germany and Great Britain will
have achieved their ends.
strong Measures May Result.
Mr. Balfour. when questioned on the
Venezuelan situation today by the liberal
leader, Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman.
! said:
For the past two years We have had grave
cause for complaint various occasions
OF unjustihable interference by the Vene-
zuelan government with the liberty and
r property of British subjects.
No effort has been spared by the British
T government to obtain an amicable settle
ment OF these cases but In none OF them
v have satisfactory explanations been forth
coming. Latterly the representations OF
r the British minister have been practically
unnoticed.
' There are also cases in which British
subjects and companies have large claims
' We have been acting In conjunction with
| the German government, which has large
2 claims against the Venezuelans.