The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-16
FORCED TO ACTION.
United States Interests Are Sure to
Suffer.

Suffer
washington, Dec. 15.-Minister Bow
en- has confirmed the press reports to
the effect that the guns of. the allied
forces which bombarded Puerto Cabel-
10 Saturday were directed entirely 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 inter
national law, in the fact that twenty
four hours notice was not served of
as to notice applies to unfortified or
fortified towns where the fire must be
directed upon the inhabitants 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.
Time to Protest.
But it is now probable that the
United States will break its attitude
of inactivity in the event that an at
tempt is made to enforce the peace
full blockade" toward an American
ship. While the allies were consider
ing the ways and means of bringing
Venezuela to terms and a blockade
of this character had been decided up
on. the German government informed
TIE united states IndL WHcH ttAC DioSh-
ade 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-
Spouse to this statement at the time
Qast year,, not feeling called upon to
do so before presentation of an actual
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. ex-
eept the inhibition applies to all ship
ping, and further the note intimates
| disapproval of stoppage at all.
sherman's Precedent.
In so doing, the state department is
following a precedent for, during the
effort of the powers to establish a
peaceful blockade off Crete in 1898
| Secretary Sherman formally recorded
a refusal to be bound by it. 1t hap
pened that no American ship had oe-
| casion to enter a Cretean 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 regu-
| lar lines of American steamers enter
| ing Venezuelan ports at short inter
walls, a test case may soon follow. II
| is within the legal right of the allies
< 70 CiOSc THESE ports, out pTODdBly Inis
| can be accomplished without protest
on our part only after a formal dec
laration of war. The hope is growing
here that such a declaration can, after
all, be averted owing to the energy
with which Mr.. Bowen has acted.
Castro's Proposal.
] The proposal of President Castro tc
] the allied powers for a peaceful settle
ment was suggested by Mr.. Bowen and
/ it came to the state department
! through his hands. 1t has been for
warded to London ana berlin through
] the embassies here and as both Great
| Britain and Germany have heretofore
! professed a desire to settle the issue:
/ peaceably, it is hoped that they vii
avail themselves of this opportunity
The proposal did not mention the
method of arbitration nor the limita'
tions, and the points of doubt which
may prevent the acceptance of The
scheme is believed to be Castro's un-
willingness to bind himself in advances
to the recognition OF the principle o.
liability; he would leave the arbitra-
tors to determine whether or not he /.
liable at all.