Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-16
FROM WASHINGTON.
[C0rrespondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, ID. c., December Is.


AIDE, applicable only to the ships of the
country involved lisa valueless measure
in view of the fact that all Venezuelan
ships larger than fishing smacks have al
ready been seized and destroyed-is anxi-
Gus to extend the embargo to trade main
tain under the flags of neutral nations.
Although international law is very vague
upon pacific blockades, the weight of the
authorities is with the position taken by
the United States in 1897 when the
State Department refused to recognize
the blocked of Crete as applicable to the
ships Of the United States and filed a
formal statement to that effect. Unlike
the Cretan blockade there will now be
an almost immediate test, since it is
known that the steamship Caracas Is
approaching La Guayra and any attempt
to turn her back will be promptly
reported by Minister Bowen and
action taken by the administration.
Under the plan of the Navy Department
the battleship division of the manoeuyre
fleet under Admiral Dewey will rendez-
vous at Port of Spain, Trinidad, just in
| time to watch the arrival of the Caracas
at La Guayra. The second cause Of
anxiety.to the administration is the re-
port that the German cruiser Vineta has
been sent to Margarita Island, lying
northeast of La Guayra and about 25O
miles west of Trinidad. 1t belongs to
Venezuela and about a year ago negotia-
tons were being conducted between
President Castro and the German foreign
Office tor its transfer to that country, to
be used as coaling station, in exchange
for the cancellation of the debts due by
Venezuela to Germany The trip of the
| Vine,a may mean n more than an at
tempt 10 establish q naval base, for in
this Germany, unlike Great britain, has
no possession in those waters. Even
this view is not reassuring, and tempo
rary seizure would call for at least ex-
plantations of purpose and renewed decla
rations. Meanwhile Minister Bowen
has been instructed to cable in detail the
circumstances of the blockage and, in
general, everything which has occurred.
His answer should be received today.
The entire situation was thoroughly dis
cussed at the Cabinet meeting this morn
ing.
The news of Lord Lansdowne's an
nouncement in the British House Of
Lords today that il is not the intention
of the British to land force in Vene-
zuelaior occupy any Venezuelan territory
was received at the State Department
with considerable satisfaction. Congress
has been growing uneasy over the situa-
ton, and had not some such statement
been made by the British government it
is likely that a resolution would have
been adopted in a few days asking the
State Department for light on the sub
iect. 1t is assumed here that, inasmuch
as Great Britain and Germany have been
working in conjunction throughout the
affair, Lord Lansdowne was also speak
ing with authority for Germany. There
has not been much doubt here that Eng
land would stand by the Monroe doc
trine, but the officials have not been so
sure about Germany's attitude. The
report published in the Birmingham
Eng Post today that the United States
had proposed to lend Venezuela enough
money to pay off her foreign claims is
ridiculed at the State Department.
Signor Mayor Des Planches, the Italian
ambassador, called at the department
today to formally notify the United
States government that his country had
decided to act in similar manner with
Great Britain and Germany on account
of her claims against Venezuela, and to
ask permission for the American minis
ter at Carcass Mr. Bowen, to take
charge of Italy's diplomatic affairs there
upon the withdrawal of the minister,
also to extend protection to Italian resi-
dents in the Venezuelan capital. This
request was granted, with the under
standing that Venezuela will consent to
the arrangement.
President Roosevelt believes that the
speedy ratification of the reciprocity
treaty with Cuba is more imperative
now than ever before, in view of the
complications in the South Atlantic and
the need of coaling stations. During
the day President Roosevelt made use of
this argument to several members of
Congress who were forced to admit its
force. 1t may be said that no matter
what may be the outcome of the present
Venezuelan difficulties, the administra-
ton will not recede one jot from the
stand taken on the Monroe doctrine by
President Roosevelt in his message to
Congress.
The conference of republican mem
bers of the House called for tonight, has
been declared off. 1t was called for
the purpose of considering the currency
bill.
The report from San Francisco that
Surgeon Glennon of the Marine Hospi-
tai Service had made a report to the
officers here that the supposed bubOnic
plague on the Pacific coast, is nothing
more than chicken cholera, is denied.
The House committee on war claims
today authorized favorable report on
the bill to refer claims of volunteer
officers of the civil war, for pay between
the date of commission and the date of
muster in, TO the court of claims,
The House committe on military affairs
discussed Secretary Roots general staff
bill today and came to no definite con-
clusion. The committee is not in en-
tire accord with the Secretary's bill. !
The democrats are opposed to the new
section putting off the effectiveness of the
of the bill until after General Miles's re-
tirement on the ground that if it is a
good bill, 1t should be good at once and
speedily adopted.