Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-12-19
POWERS WARNED
AMERICAN VESSELS MUST NOT BE IN.
TERFERED WITH.
Secretary of State Hay Denies That Peace
Blockade Has Ever Been Recognized
Is Following Precedent Established In
1SoS-Must Declare War on Venezue.
La to Stop All Shipping.

Washington, Dec. II. - Minister
Bowen has confirmed the press re-
ports to the effect that the guns of
the allied forces which bombarded
Puerto Cabello were directed entire
ly at the Notifications and not at the
town. Regrettable as it was, this
statement relieves the affair of the
first suspicion that it constituted
violation of international law, in the
fact that "a hours notice was not
served of the bombardment. The re-
qulrements as to the notice applies to
unfortified or fortified towns where
the fire must be directed upon the in
habitants, and this was not the case
at Puerto Cabello, So that, while the
officials here regret that the firing
took place, they have as yet no cause
to protest.
But it is now probable that the Unit
ed States will break it's attitude of in
activity in the event that an attempt
Is made to enforce the peaceful
blockade" toward an American ship.
While the allies were considering the
ways and means of bringing Vene-
zue1a to terms and a blockade of this
character had been decided upon.
the German government Informed the
United States that when the blockade
was established it would turn back
all shipping, though no effort would
be made to seize the ships. The Unit
ed States government made no re-
sponse to this statement at the time
Qast year, not feeling called upon to
do so, before presentation of an actu-
al case. But now that the blockade
is sought to be established, Secretary
Hay has informed the German govern
ment that American ships should not
be interfered with in their trading,
except the inhibition applies to all
shipping, and further, the note init
mates disapproval of stoppage at
all.
In so doing the state department is
following a precedent, for, during the
effort of the pewers to establish a
peaceful blockade" off Crete in
1893, Secretary Sherman formally re-
corded refusal to be bound by it.
1t happended that no American ship
had occasion to enter Cretan port
during the brief period Of time the
u2oChdu0 was III 1OTC0, SO the issue
was not made then, but in the present
case, with regular lines of American
steamers entering Venezuelan ports
at short intervals, a test case may
soon follow. 1t is within the legal
rights of the allies to close these
ports, but probably this can be ac-
complished without a protest on our
part only after formal declaration
of war. The hope is growing here
that such declaration can after all
be averted, owing to the energy with
which Mr.. Bowen has acted.
The proposal of President Castro to
the allied powers for peaceful set
tlement was suggested by Mr.. Bowen,
and it came to the State Department
through his hands. 1t has been for
warded 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 themselves Of this opportunity.
The proposal did not mention the
methods of arbitration nor the limfta-
tions, and the point of doubt which
may prevent the acceptance of the
scheme is believed to be Castro's I'M
willingness to bind himself in advance
to the recognition of the principal
liability; he would leave the arbitra-
tors to determine whether or not he
is liable af all