The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-12
ARBITRATION PROPOSED,

bility for the sinking of the Venezuelan
vessels of La Guayra. which it entirely
attributes to the German forces
1t is understood that nearly all of the
Venezuelan news which the British gov
ernment gets comes through the state
depart ment at Washington, and is based
on Minister BoWens MESA ge. The for
eign office here so far, however, has re-
ceived no trace of the reply to the de-
mands of Great Britain and Germany
which Venezuela is reported to have
ira nSmitted to those powers through the;
United States consul at La Guayra.
though it has officially received a copy
of President Castro's proclamation.
The foreign office officials also said
they had not received information to the
effect that Venezuela had requested
AIr. Bowen to act as arbitrator. They
think it is not likely that the proposition
has been made. but If such is the case
they do not consider that arbitration at
this stage would be acceptable to Great
Britain.
BOWEN FAMOUS IN GERMANY.
Berlin. Dec 12-Minister Bowen has
suddenly became famous in Germany
The newspapers print his portrait with
sketches of his career, applaudtrs his
prompt intervention in favor of the
Germans and British at Caracas.
The foreign office now understands
that the press report that the persons
arrested were subsequently released is
correct, but the officials here are eEtire-
ly ignorant of what has transpired since
Tuesday, being as it is in the China
campaign two days behind the news
papers. If President Castro has replied
to the German and Pritish ultimatuuls
his repiy is still in course of transmits
sion to Germany.
CONSULS SEIZED.
London. Dec pa dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Willemstad, dated Dc
cember II, says:
The Venezuelan authorities at Puerto
Cabello are fortifying that town. They
have seized and imprisoned the British
and German consuls there as well as
other Britons and Germans and have
taken possession of their property. The
authorities also seized a British steamer
which was discharging a cargo of coal
at Puerto CabellO: this vessel was un-
able to escape owing to a breakdown in
her machinery The American consul at
Puerto Cabello attempted to intervene
but he was disregarded."
LEAVE 1T TO UNCLE SAM.
Paris, Dec PA foreign office ofti-
cial made the following statement to the
Associated Press:
NO exchange of views has occurred
between the European powers concern
ing the Venezuelan situation, and no
such exchange is intended. as it is def1~
nitely held that the affair is one IN
which the United States should be left
free to take the initiative in mediation"
This statement was called out by the
suggestion of the Temps that it was
time for Europe to speak in the interest
of universal peace The official added;
1t is fully recognized here and a t the
other capitals that the United States
is the only power in a position to acl
as. intermediary. Hence there is no in
/ tention on the part OF the European
powers to take concerted or individual
action. -
The release of the French steamer
Ossum. seized by the Germans at La
Guayra, has not yet been reported to
xl,r ascr~, off 104r4 he of41 ai11c r.
cept the unofficial reports of her releass.
thus relieving the incident of its gravity
After an exchange of cable messages
it has been agreed to appoint a distin-
guiShed Spanish jurist as referee in the
F'ranco-Venezuelan arbitration. His
name will not be announced until the
arbitrators assemble at Caracas.
GERMANS TAKE HOPEFUL VIEW.
Berlin. Dec 12.-President Castros
war preparations and his public utter
ances are regarded in official quarters
here as designed to see how far the
allies are willing to go test of the
Washington and above all as efforts 20
unite his own people and reconcile
them to his dictatorship"
The foreign Office received a cable
gram Yesterday from the German
charge daffaires. Herr Won Pilgrim
Rallazi, filed at La Guayra. This is a
sure indication the foreign office thinks,
that the situation is not so tense as the
IL
Regarding the reports that the Ger
mans want only destroyed the Vene
zuelan vessels captured at La Guayra,
it is said here that according to the Off
cial advices received up to the present,
only one vessel was disabled and none
was sunk and that the British partici
pated equally with the Germans in the
action taken.
While the marine ministry is not con-
sidering the immediate dispatch of re-
Inducements if it is necessary to oc-
cupy a port marines will be sent. The
navy department garrisoning the coast
defenses has at its disposition fifteen bat
talions of marines who are serving on
shore.
HAS GONE TOO FAR
Washington, Dec. 12.-In conformity
with the understanding already reached
/ with the representa- tives OF the British
+ and German governments here the arbi-
/ tration proposition from President Cas-
/ tro win be duly laid before those gov
/ merely a channel of communication.
/ Not much hope is entertained of the
/ favorable reception of the proposition
/ as it is felt that the difficulty has pro
/ gressed too far for a settlement by the
! peaceful methods of arbitration. The
! rep~isals made by the Venezuelan gov
ernment for the destruction of the navy
/ in the seizure of British ships and the
arrest of British and German subjects,
practically have developed the relations
/ between the two countries into those of
real war, although technically the prin-
I cipals prefer to designate it as some
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