The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-23
VENEZUELA.
IS INSOLENT
PreSumeS on the Monroe
Doctrine.
GREAT BRITAIN DISGUSTED
May Sever Diplomatic Rela-
tiOnS with the Republic.
That the Rupture Would Result N
Hostilities is Not Contemplated.
Patos Island Case Latest
Contention.
GREAT BRITAIN DISGUSTED

London, Sept 1.-THE Associated Press
Is in a position to announce that diplo-
matte relations between Great Britain
and Venezuela are on the verge of being
severed.
Any day, almost any hour, may bring
the announcement that the British min
lister at Caracas has been given his pass
port with corresponding action toward
the Venezuelan representative in London.
The cause of the crisis does not seem to
be confined to any particular incident,
but consists in various differences which
eliminated in Venezuela assuming such
an angry attitude as to leave Downing
Street fully impressed that the Venezue-
Ian government intends to force matters
to a crucial issue. That diplomatic rup-
ture would result in hostilites is a con-
tingency thus far scarcely contemplated.
Case of Patos Island.
The present diplomatic relations are 50
strained that to quote a responsible Brit
ish official it would make really very lit
tie difference If the fact became public
property by the absence of the diplomat
ic representatives from Caracas and Lon
don. The view of the Foreign Office is
that affairs have reached a stage where
1t is impossible to deal with Venezuela
in any matter which may come up. In
proof of this contention, the Foreign Of
flee instances the report of the United
States minister at Caracas, Herbert w
Bowen. announcing that the Venezuela
government had protested against the
British flag being raised over Patos COR
Ta1n tat Al.
Ian government claimed sovereignty.
According to tho British government s
understanding. Patos island belongs to
Great Britain just as much as Teinidad
and so far as known no questions as to
its ownership has ever arisen. Inhabi-
tants of the island have recently been
shot or otherwise endangered through
the action Of Venezuelans, whether gov
eminent or revolutionary partisans is not
known. For purposes of protection the
local West Indian authorities ordered the
British flag to be permanently displayed
on the island. hence the protest Of the
Foreign Office is only one of many
Affairs Badly Muddled.
An exceptionally prominent official said
to a representative of the Associated
Press this afternoon: THE affairs in
Venezuela are SO hopelessly muddled that
we can get nothing done. There is no
conceaIing the fact that the Venezuelan
government has made heated protests to
our minister. The chief grievance APP
pears to be the allegation that the Brit
fish government is aiding the revolution
AIRY army. 1t is needless to say this is
perfectly baseless.
I'VE wish the United States would take
over the whole country aud then, per-
haps. we could get some peace.
"Of all the disturbances of the last de-
cade the present seems to be the worst.
This, combined with the attitude of the
nominal government, makes us somewhat
Indifferent to any action which may take
place. The Ncnezuelans appear to be in
clined to he rather reckless, chiefly be-
cause or what 7 presume is the mistaken
nation that Washington will protect
them from the results Of their own folly.
however inimiral that might be to the
lives and property of British subjects and
those of other Europeans. AS we I'M
derstand Monroeism, Venezuela is quite
mistaken in this matter, though appar-
emily the impression has much to do
with her present action