Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-09-23
Little South American Disputes John
Bulls claim to II.
MAY BE RELYING ON UNCLE SAMUEL
LOndOnsr Suspects that Monroe Doctrine
Cuts a Figure.
WASHINGTON IS NOT YET INFORMED
state Department Receives No Notice
of strained Relation, but Knows
How to Account for Any
that May Exist.

LONDON, Sept. 22.--The Associated Press
! is in a position to announce that the diplo-
matte relations between Great Britain and
Venezuela are on the verge Of being sew
cred.
Any day, almost any hour, may bring the
\ announcement that the British minister
at Caracas has been given his passport,
= with corresponding action toward the
Venezuelan representative in London.
The cause Of the crisis does not seem
to be confined to any particular incident,
} but consits IN various differences which
eliminated in Venezuela assuming such an
angry attitude as to leave Downing street
fully impressed with the belief that the
Venezuelan government intends to force
matters to a crucial issue. That a diplo-
J matte rupture would result in hostilities
is a contingency thus far scarcely contem-
plated.
The present diplomatic relations are so
; strained that, to quote responsible Brit
ish ofhcial, 1t would make really very little
difference IL the fact became public prop
erty by The absence of the diplomatic rep
resentatives from Caracas and London.
As the Foreign once Views IL.
The view Of the Foreign office is that
affairs have reached a stage where 1t is
impossible to deal satisfactorily with Ven
ezuela in any matter which may come up.
In proof Of this contention the Foreign
ONCE instances the report of the United
States minister at Caracas, Herbert W.
Bowen, announcing that the Venezuelan
government had protested against the Brit
ish flag being raised over Patos (or Goose
island) over which the Venezuelan govern
1ment claimed sovereignty. According to
the British governments understanding
Patos island belongs to Great Britain Just
as much as Trinidad, and so far as known
no question as to its ownership has ever
arisen. Inhabitants OF the island have been
shot CIR otherwise endangered through the
action OF Venezuelans, whether government
or revolutionary partissns is not known.
For purposes OF protection the local West
Indian authorities eerdered the British flag
prominently displayed on the island, hence
the protest
' An exceptionally prominent oficIal said
to representative of the Associated
Press this evening: Affairs in Venezuela
are so hopeiessly muddled that we can get
nothing done. There is no concealing the
fact that the Venezeulan government has
made heated protests to our minister. The
chief grievance appears to be the allega-
tion that the British government iA aiding
the revolutionary army. II is needless ,o
say this Is perfectly baseless. We only
wish the United States would take over the
whole country and then perhaps we could
get some peace. OF all the disturbances OF
the last decade the present seems the
worst. This, with the attitude Of the pres.
ent government. makes us somewhat indlf.
ferent as to what may take place.
Relying on Uncle Samuel.
''The VeneEuelans appear inclined to b,
rather reckless, thanks, chiefly to what
presume is the mistaken notion that Wash
ington will protect them from the results
OF their own folly. however inimical tha
may be TO the lives and property Of Brit
ish subjects and those OF other Europeans
As we understand Monroeism, Venezuel,
Is quite mistaken in this matter, though
apparently the impression has much 20 d.
with her present action"
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-No notice of
strain OF the diplomatic relations betweel
Great Britain and Venezuela has reaohe,
the Department Of State. II such is tn
case, however, the department oficial
would have no hesitation in ascriblng tn
cause OF the threatened rupture to tn
dispute which has been revived betweel
the two countries over the ownership n
Pator or Goose island, lying In the Drag
on's Mouth, between Trinidad and IN
Venezuelan coast.
Minister Bowen last week informed III
department that the dispute had taken a
acute phase on account OF the assertio
OF British sovereignty over the island. an
as he, at the same time, said VenezueI
had protested against the hoisttng Of th
British nag, II is not doubted that TO thI
incident must be traced any more seriou
difhculty between the two countries.