Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-18

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iecting unacknowledged debts and to pun
ish President Castro for his firm deter
mination not to allow England to quietly
usurp Palos island ana other valuable pos
sessions in the neighhOrhood of the orino-
co river.
AMERICA WARNS GERMANY
NOT TO STOP OUR SHIPS
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15.-AIlnister Bow
en- has confirmed the press reports that
the guns of the allied feet, which bonn
barded Puerto Cabello yesterday. were di-
rected entirely at the Notifications and
Negotiable as it was. the statement
relieves the affair OF the first suspicion
that it constituted a Violation of interna-
tional law in the fact that twenty-four
hours notice was no served of the bonn
bardment. The requllement as to notice
applies to unforfifed or fortified towns,
where the fire must pe directed upon the
inhabitants, and this was not the case
at Puerto Cabello. So that while the Of
ficials here regret that the firing took
place, they have as vet no cause to pro-
test.
But It is now probable that the United
States win break it's attitude of inactivity
in the event an attempt Is made to en-
force the peaceful blockade" toward an
American ship. When the allies were con-
sidering the ways and means Of bringing
yenezuela.t to terms als0A bfockade Of this
character has been decided upon, the Ger
man government informed the United
States that when the blockade was estab-
lshed 1t would turn back all shipping,
though no effort would be made to seize
the ships.
The United States government made no
response to this statement at the time
CAST year., not feeling called on to do so
before the presentation Of an actual case.
But now that the blockade is sought to
be established Secretary Hay has inform
ed the German government that American
ships should not be interfered with, ex-
cept the inhibition applies to all shipping
and further, the note intimates a disap-
prevail of stoppages at all.
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
INTO ANGER MAY BLAZE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.--It is not UNI
likely that this week viii bring an out
burst in congress on the aggression of the
British and German allies in Venezuela,
though the administration still sees no
reason for interference in the situation
there
Before news reached here of the bonn
bardment of the fort at Puerto Cabello
many senators and representatives had
received letters and kilograms from their
constituents, urging them to bring the af-
fair in congress in some shape. Now that
the new act of the allies in reducing the
fort by bombardment has been proclaim
ed. there is little doubt that some of the
national legislators will take advantage
of the general debate, and open up on the
allies, particularly Germany.
Germany, to the official Washington
mind is the real aggressor in the Vene-
zuelan war. The United States is the
only nation preserving a strict indiffer-
ence. England is active. Venezuela is ex-
cited and rushing to arms for defense and
Germany seems bent on stirring up the
maximum of trouble.
The administration holds that for the
present there is nothing it can do by way
of attempted intervention. 1t has been
given assurances that neither of these
European powers intend to infringe the
Monroe doctrine. 1t has acted the part
of friend to both sides. Its minister at
Caracas is a representative of German
and British interests, looking after both
legations, protecting the subjects of both
countries from wrong. and securing the
release of those subjects from unjustifia-
BILE arrest.
The sentiment in congress. however,
judging from the talk of members. is diff
ferent. When the action Of the allies on
yesterday is discussed today, there is deep
resentment apparent That the warships
o. the great nations should fire on the
forts and shed blood when the Venezuelan
government had made all haste to offer
apologies and ample satisfaction for the
alleged wrongs to the British flag, has
awakened the strongest feeling against the
allies. The action is regarded as another
unexpected event tending to commit the
aggressive powers more deeply than ever
to a policy which they may have diff
Guilty in abandoning with good grace to
themselves.
HAY AGAIN CABLES ALLIES
TO ANSWER cAsTRo's NOTE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE italian
ambassador today called at the state de-
partment and told Secretary Hay that
Italy had joined the allies against Ven
ezuela. He requested that Mr.. Bowen as
sumo charge of the Italian interests in
Venezuela, and the secretary granted this
request, subject to the approval of Ven
ezuela.
Italy enters the combination on the
same plane as to abstention from terri
torial seizures as Germany and Great
Britain.
Failing to hear from Europe as to Mr..
Bowen's proposal to arbitrate the Vene-
zuelan troubles, Secretary Hay today ad-
dressed eablegrams to the ambassa-
doris at London, Berlin and Rome, in
structing them to call the matter again to
the attention of the governments to which
they are accredited with view to secur-
ing an early expression of opinion from
them.
CASTRO HAS DECLINED
ITALY'S DUNNlNG NOTE
CARACAS. Dec. 16.-The Italian minis