Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-15
MAY MAKE AN ISSUE
If American Ships for Vene-
zasla Are Stopped.
NOTICE TO GERMANY
-y--
TewH OF rUE4To eABELLo WAS
NOT BoMBARDED.
Minister Bowen Reports That Fire Was,
at the Fortifications - Hope of
Averting Hostile Declaration.
NOTICE TO GERMANY

Minister Bowen has confirmed the press
| reports to the effect that the guns of the
allied fleet which bombarded Puerto Cabello
| were directed entirely at the Notifications
and not at the town.
Regrettable as the affair was, this state
ment relieves it of the first suspicion that
| it constituted a violation of international
| law in the fact that twenty-four hours no.
tice was not served of the bombardment.
| The requirement az TO notice applies to
unfortified towns OF fortified towns where
| the fire must be difeeted upon the inhab-
| itants, and it is saidEthat was not the case
at Puerto Cabello % that while the off,
ciaIs here regret thsk the firing took place,
they have as yet nostause to protest.
United States Nay Take Action.
But it is now probable that the United
| States will break Its attitude of inactivity
| in the event that an attempt is made to
| enforce the peaceful blockade toward an
| American ship. When the allies were con-
| sidering ways and means Of bringing Ven
ezuela to terms and blockade of that
character had been decided upon, the Ger
| man government informed the United
| States that when the blockade was estab-
| lished it would turn back all shipping
| though no effort would be made to seize
| the ships. The United States government
| time Qast year,, not feeling called upon to
| do so before the presentation OF an actual
| case But now that the blockade is sought
| to be established, Secretary HAY mas IN
| formed the German government that Amer
| lean ships should not be sinterfered with In
their trading, except the. 1nhibltlon applles
| to all shipping; and, further, the note inti-
mates a disapprovad Of any stoppage at ALL
The Blockade at Crete.
In so doing the State Department Is per-
| rectly consistent, for during the effort OF the
powers to establish a peaceful blockade"
Of Crete In 1886 Secretary Sherman form
ally recorded a refusal to be bound by 1t.
It happened that no American ship had oc-
casion toeenter a Cretan port during the
brief period of time the blockade was In
force, so the issue was not made then, but
| in the present case. with regular hnes OF
American steamers entering Venezuelan
ports at short Intervals test case must
soon follow. OF course, 1t Is within the
legal right Of the allies to stop these ships,
but probably this can be accomplished with
out protest on our part only after format
declaration Of war.
Hope Of Averting War.
The hope is growing here that such
declaration can after all be avoided owing
to the energy with which Mr.. Bowen has
acted. The proposal OF President Castro
to the allied powers for peaceful settle
N6uL WAS SuSScStcu ny lat' oo"OAir eAN -
came to the State Department through his
hands. 1t has been forwarded to London
and Berlin through the embassies here,
and as both Great Britain and Germany
have heretofore professed a desire to settle
the issues peaceably, it Is hoped that they
will avail of this opportunity. The pro-
posal did not mention the method OF arbit-
ration, nor the limitati tnd the point OF
doubt which may prevent the acceptance
of the scheme is believed to be Castros un-
willingness to bind himself in advance to
the recognition Of the principle Of liability;
he would leave the arbitrators to determine
whether or not he is liable at all.
Reason for Delay.
It has developed that the reason for the
delay in the consideration of President Cas-
tro's proposal to arbitrate the dispute with
Great Britain and Germany was the alb
sence from London Of Lord Lansdowne, the
British minister for foreign affairs. That
official spends Saturday and Sunday of each
week almost invariably at his country place
and does not allow any business to inter-
fere with his rest. He is not due in Lon
don until this afternoon, and no one else fs
competent to deal with the proposition.
1t appears that the arbitration proposition
had more than peffunctory Endorsement
by the United STATES government. Mr.
Bowen having asked permission to endeavor
to settle the matter by an arbitration, Sec
retary Hay not only promptly accorded the
permission, but went to the length of hims
self dispatching the proposal which up to
that point had been rather vague and in
formal to the British and Germany gov
ernments. Had the Secretary not felt a
warm interest in the matter 1t is probable
that he would have allowed Mr.. Bowen to
forward the application In his own way,
which, of course, would not have given 1t
the same weight.
Italy Sounding the Government.
Today the Italian ambassador, Signor
Ia- oil of fho fa
Department to take soundings as to the
attitude of this government in the event
that the Italian government pressed for a
settlement OF it's claims against Venezuela.
1t appears that the italian desires are not
by any means SO comprehensive or the de-
mands so stiff as in the case Of Great Brit
ain or Germany, but the details could not
be learned.
Southern Repnbliss Anxious.
The south and central diplomatic repre-
sentatives here are In a. state Of anxiety
that finds expression in frequent calls at
the State Department. forainformation. No
less than six ministers were among Secre-
tary Hays visitors this morning, although
this was not diplomatic reeeption day. 1t is
plain that very general sympathy for Vene-
zuela exists among the Latin Americans.
Conference at the White House.
Secretary Hay Yves in conference at the
White House for short time with The
President, but it was stated that little at
tention was given 20 VeneSueia.
Secretary Hay said when he went away
that there was nothing toe say. Later In
the day Senator Cullem. swho Is chairman
of the foreign relations committee OF the
Senate, and Representative Hit, who is
the head of similar committee In the
House, called on the President. This gave
rise to an old-time war rumor-that an I'M
portant conference. had been held. Repre-
sentative Cannon was likewise mentioned
as participant in the conference by rea-
son of call he made, but the facts dis
PEELED such stories. No two Of the men
mentioned were with the President at the
same time Secretary Hay called before
any of the others ana went away before
they reached the White House.
Senator CulIom had with him Mr.. Hunt
ington Wilson. nrst secretary OF the lega-
ton Of the limited Atates at Toxic. and !
Repsesentative Hta had yeung man with
him whom he aesired to present to the
President Mr.. Wilson is on leave OF alb
sence from Japan, bat may return before
the expiration oR MS leave. II Il - found
that Mr.. Griscons the new minister to