Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-23
England and Venezuela May SIEVE
Diplomatic Relations,
REPUBLIC Is AGGRESSIVE.
That iIostiii,ies Wiii Result IL Not
Contemplated Thus Rar-Troubie
Arises over Patos Island.

London, Sept. 22,-The Associated
Press is IN position to announce that
diplomatic relations between Great
Britain and Venezuela are on the verge
OF being severed. Any day, almost any
hour may bring the announcement
that the British minister at Caracas
has been given his passports. with
corresponding action toward the Vene.
zuelan representative in London.
The cause Of the crisis seems not TO
be confined to any particular instance,
but consists in various differences
which have 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 crucial issue.
That diplomatic rupture would re.
suit In hostilities Is a contingency thus
far scarcely contemplated. The pres.
ent diplomatic relations are so strained
that to quote a responsible British
official, 1t would make really very little
differences II the fact became public
property by the absence OF the dlplo-
matte representatives from Caracas
and London.
The view Of the foreign Office Is that
affairs have reached n stage where It
is impossible to deal satisfactorily with
Venezuela In any matter which may
come up, In proof OF this contention
h..
Of the United States minister at
Caracas. Herbert w. Bowen. announc.
Ing that the Venezuelan government
had protested against the British flag
being raised over patos Tor Goose)
island, over which the Venezuelan
government claimed sovereignty.
According to the British govern
ment's understanding Patos island be-
longs TO Great Britain just as much as
Trinidad, and so far as known no ques.
ton as to rs ownership has ever
arisen, Inhabitants Of the island have
recently been. shot or otherwise en-.
dangered through the action Of Vene.
zuela, whether government or revo-
lutionaTy partlsans Is not known For
PURPOSES OF protection the local West
Indian authorities ordered the British
lldk " We prominently ulSpldNtl OH lils
island, hence the protest which ths
foreign office says Is only one Of many.
An exceptionally prominent official
said TO a representative Of the Asso.
Ciated Press this evening "Affairs in
Venezuela are so hopelessly muddled
that we can get nothing done There
Is no concealing the fact that the
Venezuelan government has made
heated protests to our minister. The
chief grievance appears to be the al
legation that the British government
Is aiding the revolutionary army. II
Is needless TO say this Is perfectly
baseless, We only wish the United
States would take over the whole coun-
try, and then perhaps we could GET
some peace. or all the disturbances of
the last decade the present seems TO
be the worst. This, combined with the
attitude of the nominal government,
makes us somewhat Indifferent TO any
action which may take place. The
Venezuelans appear inclined TO be
rather reckless. thanks chiefly TO what
| presume Is the mistaken notion that
Washington will protect them from the
results OF their own folly however
inimical that might be 10 the lives and
property Of British subjects and those
OF other Europeans. As we understand
Monroelsm, Venezuela is quite mis-
taken in this matter though apparent
~ the impression has much to do with
her present action"