The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16

Minister BOwen's Proposal Backed Up
by the United States Government.

LONDON, Dec. 15.-It is believed that or
ders will be sent TO the British commander
in Venezuelan waters. to take no further
aggressive action at present, pending a de-
cision being arrived at on the proposal for
arbitration. This came in the form of
proposal through the United States govern
ment to submit the claims of British and
German subjects to arbitration, which Lord
Lansdowne announced later in the day in
the House of Lords. and is now under con-
sideration by the British government" The
proposal is the one forwarded by Minister
Bowen, but which now has received the
support of the United States.
Lord Lansdowne added: 1--WE are greatly
indebted to the good offices of the United
States minister at Caracas in obtaining the
release of the British and German subjects.
He had no official information regarding the
reported bombardment of Puerto Cabello."
Continuing, the foreign secretary said that
since the parliamentary paper giving the
Venezuelan correspondence had been issued
the government has received from Minister
Haggard a cable summary of what pur-
ports to be Venezuelas reply to the British
ultimatum. Therein Venezuela complains
that no reparation was offered by Great
Britain for the landing of marines or for
the conduct of the British authorities of
Trinidad. The dispatch clio ed With saying
Venezuela represented thai as her treasury
was exhausted II was impossible for the
government to meet its debts for the mo-
ment, but directly peace was declared 1t
would not be necessary TO remind the
Venezuelan government of its obligations.
Lord Lansdowne's statement was drawn
out by Earl Spencer, who referred TO the
manner in which the foreign secretary re-
Gently criticised and made sarcastic and
jocular remarks regarding that small coun-
try, Venezuela" The earl said he considered
IL 10 be most unfortunate that the foreign
secretary should have adopted such a tone
toward country with which negotiations
were pending.
The parliamentary paper alluded TO in
the foregoing gives the correspondence re-
lating to Venezuelan affairs and was issued
this afternoon. Ii begins with a memoran-
dunn. which, after recounting the existing
causes of complaint against Venezuela in
Guiding the seizures of British ships and
the protestation against the Venezuelan
consul at Trinidad exacting improper fees
for collecting customs duties for Venezuela
in Trinidad, of which mo notice was taken
by Venezuela, says: Besides these spe-
cine outrages and grounds for complaint
there are causes in which British subjects
and companies have large claims against
Venezuela. The Venezuelan government
declined TO accept the explanations and as
surances of his Majesty's government in
regard to the Ban RICH in any way
modifying the situation. AS result the
position of his Majestys legation al
Caracas has been rendered quite imprac-
ticable for diplomatic purposes as all rep
reservations, protests and circumstances
now remain disregarded and unacknowl-
edged"
The correspondence, which dates to Dec
2, shows that so early as July q Germany
tentatively mentioned the Venezuelan diff