The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-18

! elimination in this respect and the Ad-
ministration is not ready 20 do 40 yet
The Interpretation accepted by the United
States Of the language Of the German COM
munication was that the most radical
measure to be adopted by the Imperial
Government would be the temporary
occupation OF Venezuela harbor places
and the levying of duties in those places.
and that this course would toe necessary
only II the peace blockade failed TO force
Castro To an accounting,
England. while contenting herself with a
verbal statement communicated to the
Secretary Of State through the British
! Ambassador. assented, or To give the bene-
fiji Of the doubt. was understood 10 assent,
To- the assurances of Germany and the
statement of that GoyeTnments plan of
coercion,
not TO RECOVER DEBTS,
Premier Balfour's EXPLANATION in the
House Of Commons to-day that war opera
tions would not he undertaken to recover
debts. but TO recover compensation for
assaults on British subjects and the seizure
Of British vessels caused "a smile among
officials here
That England and Germany have had
serious cause for complaint against Nene-
zuela on account Of physical indgnities
to their subjects " no reside in that country
l. well understood here, but IL Is regarded
As somewhat disingenuous for the Prime
Minister of England. after indicating to the
United States that only mild coerciVe
measures were intended, suddenly to reach
the conclusion that the treatment received
10y British ships and subjects at the hands
OF the Venezuelan authorities demand
satisfaction, which can be obtained oply
by making formal war on that republic.
II is maintained here that the incon-
sistency Of the British atttude-and the
German attitude, tools shown by the fact
that the announcement that war would be
declared against Venezuela, came right on
the heels Of knowledge that the United
States would decline TO recognize a peace
blockade.
WILL REMOVE BLOCKADE DISPUTE.
A declaration by England and Germany
that war exists between them ana Neue-
zuela, Will remove one complication which
threatened to have serious results. This
was the apparently contrary view of the
United States 10 tina, OF EuroIean Powers
as to the scope OF peace bloc ide. The
United States maint aimed that Il bloc kaGe
declared prior to the existence of war
would not be applicable to the shipping
Of this or any other neutral government
England has now acknowledged the sound
ness of this contention, abandoning a
policy OF many years standing, and II Is
certain that Germany will evade the issue
10y declaring that as a state of war exists,
Venezuelan ports are subject TO war
bocade.
While the United s ates Government will
recognize a war blook lde as applicable
to American merchant ships, it will prob
ably not recognize that II IL applicable
TO the Caracas or any OF her vessel Of Ameri-
can register which cleared for Venezuelan
ports prior to The declaration. 1t is not
intended, however. to meet this issue until
il IL presented by the arrival Of the Caracas
at La Guayra.
That the Government had heard OF Eng
lands intention to abandon its previous
stand with respect TO the peace blockade.
was indicated in THE suns Washington
dispatches printed this morning, More
definite Information on the subject was
obtained to-day. Through some authori-
tative source the State Department was
made aware Of the change in England's
position. This accounts for the circum-
stance that yesterday the Department
sent to Germany. but not to England a
request for definition of a peace blockade
and a statement OF its applicability to COM
merce Of the United States and other neu-
trails. The request was transmitted to
Germany through Charlemagne Tower,
the United States Ambassador in Berlin.
II has not been answered.
STRONG HINT THAT WE WANT TO SEE DIS
PUTE ARBITRATED.
The statement conta ined in Washington
despatch printed in The SUN this morning
that the PRESIDE Mt and the Cabinet agreed
yesterday that request for an answer
from Germany and gland to President
Castro's offer to arbtrate would make IL
clear to those Governments that the United
States would be gratified If the proposal
were accepted. may now be requested
with greater EN- basis.
1t is learned that while Secretary Hays
original telegram transmitting the offer
merely included Minister Bowen's despatch
about Castro's proposal, the messages sent
by Mr. Hay Immediately after yesterdays
Cabinet meeting contained a strong hint
to the German and British Governments
that an acceptance would be very gratifying
to the United States.
AID SENT TO MINISTER BOWEN.
Two messages came to the State De-
partment from Minister Bowen to-day.
In one he transmitted the request Of the
Withdrawing Italian Minister to Venezela
that MIR. Bowen assume charge Of Italian
interests. Authority to repre- sent Italy
had been transmitted TO Mr.. Bowen yester-
day after the Italian Ambassador here had
made the same request TO Secretary Hay.
The other message may or may not
have some significance. In it Mr.. Bowen
asked that an American naval officer be
sent to Caracas Immediately. The official
explanation Of this request was that Mr..
Bowen was so busy that he needed help
and that a man in uniform would carry
greater weight in Caracas than civilian.
This is the only statement on the subjec
that can be obtained.
The Navy Department made public
two kilograms OF inst ruction In connection
with the request OF Mr. Bowen. They
follow.
'To Marietta, Ia Guayra: Send Van
Deuser lieutenant Commander and ex-
ecutive officer Of the Marietta) to Caracas
az assistant to American Minister tempo
rarily MOODY"
Dewey. San Juan; Send competent
officer with despatch (hurry) in TORPEDO
destroyer or other fast vessel to Caracas AS
assistant to American Minister. MOODY"
The OFFICER to be sent by Admiral Dewey
will relieve Lieutenant Commander Van
Deuser.
DEwBY's FLEET
The programme for the Christmas holt
day dispersal Of Admiral Dewey's big
feet has not been completed by tho Navy
Department. The significance with which
the Administration regards the distribu-
ton Of the warships IL shown bv the fact
that the programme will not be telegraphed
to Admiral Dewey until II has been an
proved by the President with whom Sec
rotary Moody will have talk on the sub
iect tomorrow, II is known positively
that the distribution will be made with
particular reference to the Venezuelan
situation.
custom VOTSE SEIZED?
ReDort That british Have Landed NJ I'm.