The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-17
ALL OF ONE MIND.
Senators Talk Over the Venezuelan
Situation in Executive Session.

Washington Dec. 1.-THE Venezuelan
question occupied the attention Of the
senate in executive session for almost
an hour Tuesday afternoon. The ques-
ton came up informally almost immedi-
ately after the doors were closed. Sem
ator Teller, disclaiming all intention Of
being critical and saying he merely de-
sired information. asked Senator Gull
lom, chairman of the committee on for
eign relations. what information he
possessed as to the Venezuelan affairs.
Mr.. Teller said that the situation was
such that senators felt that the Monroe
doctrine at any time might become in
volved if the complication should con-
tinue-
Senator Cullom replied to the inquiry
that he had no knowledge of recent
events not contained in the house prints
Messrs. Bacon, Hoar. Lodge and Stew
art all made remarks. In none of tie
addresses was anything harsh or critical
said.
The tone of all the speeches, whether
by Republicans or Democrats. was that
the attitude of this nation should be one
of Watchfulness. There was a general
agreement that while the means about
ed by Great Britain and Germany for
collection of their debts had been quite
strenuous, they thus far had committed
no infringement of the Monroe doctrine
and therefore had done nothing to which
the United States could take excep-
ton This was the position of Senator
Cullom, it was of other senators who
spoke.
Mr. Cullom said that much light as
to the attitude of the administration
could be obtained by consulting the cor
respondence between the state depart
ment and the German ambassador a
year ago. He then called attention to
the fact that on December 10. 1901, the
representative Of Emperor William had
brought the matter of Venezuela's debts
and her apparent indifference to them
to the attention of the secretary of state.
The German ambassador in his letter
gave the department complete informa-
ton from the German standpoint of the
position of his government. He said
that for seven years Venezuela had fail
ed to pay interest debt to German
citizens of about S.. 900 900 contracted in
the construction of a railroad and that
in addition there we're other debts
amounting to about 81 700 600 due to
German citizens from Venezuela, which
it had proved impossible to collect. He
added that every known peacea BILE
means had been tried to secure the
money, and that his government feeling
that patience had ceased to be virtue
had decided to use coercive means. II
was desired, however he said. that it
should be explicitly understood that.
whatever steps might be taken by his
country there was. no desire to encroach
on or interfere with the Monroe doctrine.
This explanation he thought was due to
the United States as the only puTp pose OF
his government was to assist its people
Hay replied December 1. 1902. saying the
Monroe doctrine was not intended to
shield any American nation from the
payment of it's honest debts. and that
its purpose was to prevent the acquisi-
tion of territory by the old world ma
tions. To forther elucidate7 the position
Of the United States on the Monroe doc
trine, he quoted from the first annual
message of President Roosevelt which
had been in the hands of congress for
only few days. When Senator Cu1lom
concluded. Senator Lodge called atten-
ton to the declaration attributed to
Lord Lansdowne bv today's dispatch,
i that there is no disposition or desire on
the part of Great Britain to acquire any
] Venezuelan territory
/ Senator Bacon of Georgia, d leading
fcontfnued on Page SID