Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-11

received information Of the seizure Of the
Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar at Port OF
Spain Island OF Trinidad.
In the House Of Commons today Under
FOREIGN Secretary Crsnborne said the gov
eminent had no official information Of the
seizure by the Venezuelans OF 200 British
and German subjects or Of the seizure OF
the Venezuelan warshlps by the fleets OF
Great Britain and Germany.
Lord Cranborne added that the British
claims. which necessitated correction. would
be fully disclosed by papers TO be laid be-
fore the house. They included a demand
for compensation for interference with
trading vessels, the imprisonment and Ill
treatment OF British subjects and the de-
struction Of property. The under secre-
tary asserted that the government would
follow precedent in the enforcement OF
analogous claims. ~. e. q
Replying to Mr.. Bryce, liberal, Lord
Cranborne said the British minister at
Caracas had been instructed TO walt twen-
Sy-four hours after the presentation of the
ultimatum, and falling a reply to proceed to
La Guayra where he was TO, wait another
twepty-four hours on board a British ship.
That period expired last night. Unless in
the meantime a concession had been re-
ceived It was necessary for his majesty's
government to take forcihle action. The
government had not been Informed that
such action had been taken, ~
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Dec. 10
The British cruiser Charybdis. after seizing
the Venezuelan gunboat Boiiver last night
landed the officers here, while the British
soop Alert took the crew to Guiria, sit
uated on the Venezuelan coast opposite
this island. y
The British torpedo boat destroyer Quail
has sailed with instructions TO capture the
Venezuelan war vessel now engaged in
blockading the mouth OF the Orinoco
The entire coast Of Venezuela from the
OrinOco river TO La Guayra will be block
AIDED from today by British war vessels,
while the Venezuela coast from La Guayra
to the Colombian frontier will be block
AIDED by German vessels. m .,,
BerIfn IL Ignorant.
BERLIN, Dec 1O.-The foreign oface here
Gp to noon had not received anything from
Va Guayra since Monday evening, when
Charge d'Anaires Won Pilgrim Baltszzi ca
bled that he had gone on board Vneta.
Tho officials here have no confirmation Of
the announced arrest OF all the German and
British subjects at Caracas and are, there
fore, disposed to discredt the statement.
They say that possibly a few Germans and
British have been arrested under a pretext
by President Castro, but the foreign off,
clals consider II extremely doubtful that he
would permit the arrest Of all the Germans
and British 4" ''"f''
The naval plans Of Germany and Great
Britain provided for the patrolling Of the
Venezuelan coast by launches in order to
prevent smuggling and to blockade those
Venezuelan ports where the custom houses
have not been taken over. 81.
The German governments reply to Pres
ident Castro's complaint that the ulti-
matums we're delivered irregularly on q
holiday at the private residence OF the
Venezuelan foreign minister is that Presf-
dent Castro was Informed that the ulti-
matums might be expected, and Germany
and Great Britain, being unwilling to delay
totion any longer, had them presented on
sunday at the Foreign! minister's private
house, as his Office was closed on that day.
"Peacefu1 Blockade" Exists.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1O.---The State de-
partment has been advised that peaceful
blockade exists at La Guayra, which is the
port Of Caracas. the capital OF Venezuela.
The difference between this state and a
Btate Of war is not very strongly marked
except in the opportunity Afforded by the
peaceful blockade to effect a. settlement
without recourse to actual bloodshed. The
situation is here regarded as critical
Minister Bowen, at Caracas, has accepted
the trust placed upon him to look after the
interests Of the British and German citizens
in Venezuela, and this has brought him into
a conflict with President Castro. He has
Informed the State department that a num-
ber of these citizens were arrested yester-
day at Caracas.
Mr.. Bowen at once addressed himself tc
President Castro to secure their release
He represented that he had been charged
with the care of the British and German
subjects in Venezuela, but President Castro
was unwilling at first to recognize his au-
thority.
Finally the minister convinced him that
he was acting within his rights and Presi-
dent Castro consented with reluctance t.
release the principal prisoners.
No Reason for Arrest. .
Mr.. Bowen win4insist upon the release
Of the prisoners. Nothing in his report t.
the Slate department indicates the reason
Tor the arrest Of these foreigners excep
that they were Germans or British. .
Mr.. Bowen wishes to play the part o
peacemaker between the principals in thii
dispute, and the State department. aftel
considering his statements, has decidet
that ne may 90 THIS only upon application
from Venezuela for his good of1ees. and 1
the same shall be acceptable TO the British
and German representatives
This attitude IS said to be consistent Will
that assumed by the United States govern
ment in many preceding internationa
troubles in which rs good Offices have beei
Invoked.
The United States navy has at present NJ
representative In La Guayra. The littl
Eunboat Mariettai Is at Curacao. few hour
distant, in readiness to respond to any call
Both Germany and Great Britain, 1t wa
said. fully appreciate the position OF tn
United States and are determined that thi
country shall not be drawn unneeessaril
into the embodiment.
1t was also stated that President Roose
Velt's recent interpretations Of the Monro
doctrine were being looked to by both ma