New-York tribune., 1902-12-14
P4RIS.
French Press BekeUcs Monroe
Doctrine Is Being Tested.

Especial to The New-York Tribune by French cable)
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune AssocationD
Paris, Dec 13.-The combined action Of Eng
land and Germany in Venezuela in defiance OF
the dictatorial Castro, above all the attitude OF
the United States as foreshadowed in the ex-
tracts from President Roosevelt's speeches bear
ing upon the Monroe Doctrine and the state
ments made by Senator Lodge. the administra-
tion leader in the Senate which are copiousiy
reproduced and commented upon In the French
newspapers, arouse the keenest interest here.
In the highest diplomatic circles the events in
Venezuela are regarded the most important
precedent Yet offered as to the true meaning
Of the Monroe Doctrine, hitherto so Wofuly
misunderstood in Europe and it is now felt that
the United States viii not shield Venezuela from
the consequences Of her own wrongdolnS OF
defalcation, and Will not intervene unless Eng
land or Germany should attempt the permanent
acquisition of Venezuelan territory.
The general trend Of opinion in the French
press is that England and Germany have acted
too hastily and made a mistake in supposlng
that President Castro would back water at the
first gun fired by their warships. The PeuI
Journal" in leading article, headed Europe
in America" and written by Ernest Judet, takes
the ground that the only explanation OF Presi-
dent Castro's defiance is that he has been en-
couraged by jingo interpretations Of the Monroe
Doctrine TO resist two powerful European States
and that he will allow his ports to be bonn
barded and the seacoast TO be raVaged in hopes
of leading England and Germany on to acts Oh
aggression in the interior which will unite an
his countrymen, add to his popularity, enable
him TO end his own little civil war. besides
arousing sympathy in the United States
The Petit Journal" says if President Castro
thus plays his cards adroitly he may succeed
in greatly embarrassing President RooseVel,
whose political opponents at home are only 100
anxious to fish in troubled waters and Wofh
the Venezuela situation from the jingo stand
point for ali 1t is worth. The Petit Journal
considers the gist of the question is whether the
United States will permit the temporary terri
torial occupation Of Venezuelan ports by Eng
land and Germany which has become a military
necessity and intimates that il has reason 10
believe that during the visit of the f-ill-
peror William TO King Edward the TWO so'e-
reigns exchanged views and arrived at coiii-
mon understanding in regard to the joint poicS
of the two nations in Venezuela. and that the
German Emperor. who is keenly alive TO the
growing sighting of German interests IN brazn
and South America. expressed wish to put tiie
Monroe Doctrine to tangible proof, to feel Presl-
dent Roosevelt's pulse and to draw the WASH
ington Cabinet into defining the Monroe Doc
trine tv actual definite acts thereby establish
ing historical precedents.
The Figaro thinks that England and Hei
many have been imprudent in taking action ~
vigorously as to endanger their own SUBJECTS
and that IL the lives of British and German
residents are lost both governments VIII nave
bitter cause TO regret its shortsishteoness anu
The grayest consequences will ensue- ffeily
R0chefort, in his ''Intransigeant ano seNeia'
other boulevard papers publish periuhc'oiy ou'
.;,e sitpatson from, the o,.era bouffe standpoint
ard pi.chtne into both England and Germany
buI England especially. and calling them oo'n
g antic pirates.
Public opinion throughout France, "hch
was AZ frs, decidedlv unfavorable TO Presi-
dent Castro and Venezuela, has undergone
a great change in the lest twenty-rour houfs
owing 10 the act of the German coHifho
eae in sinking the insignificant harhiiess