Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-22

Roosevelt to arbitrate the Venezuelan diff
hculty.
Relative to the statement published in
the United States that Ciudad Bolivar, on
the orinoeo, had been captured by revo-
lutionlsts under General Matos, the state
ment Is made that Ciudad Bolivar has been
in the possession Of the revolutionlsts for
several months past.
General Matos is at willemstsd. Cura-
Gao, today.
Trinidad 4 British Base.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Dec. 21.-The
Blockade OF Venezuelan ports was begun
with an effective force at midnight last
night. The British have the cruisers In
defatigable, Alert and Tribune, the special
service steamer Columbine and the tor
pedo boat destroyer Rocket along the coast.
n cruiser Ariadne, the flagship OF Vice
Admiral Douglas, lie here and will remain
here. All the British operations will be
directed from Trinidad.
The cruiser vineta, the German flagship,
left here this morning for La Guayra to
reinforce the German cruisers Gazelle,
Panther and Fake and the training ship
etosch. Charlotte, another training ship,
mas lett LOT 81. LUCIA le pTebeuSt Ou Tue
blockade being apparently unnecessary.
The climax to Angio-Venezuelan relations
was reached when a Venezuelan gunboat
captured a British merchantmen on the high
seas. shipped its crew and valuables and
landed them at MaTgarita Island. Then
Great Britain determined to act. Mr.. Hag-
gard and the German representative. Herr
Won Pilgrim Baltazzi, arranged to leave
Caracas secretly for fear that they might
be held as hostages by President Castro.
American Ships Arrive.
The United States battleshlps Kearsarge
and Alabama arrived here this afternoon.
Their appearance provoked considerable
comment on shore, but when Admiral Hig-
Einson called upon the acting governor Of
Trinidad and the commander OF the British
ships, he took occasion to explain that the
visit Of the men-of-war was part of the
usual winter trip Of the squadron.
Kearsarge and Alabama are anchored out
side the British warships. which are guard
ing four Venezuelan vessels, none OF which
flies either the British or Venezuelan flag.
Restaurado, which was captured from
Venezuela by the Germans, hles the Ger
man flag and is used by them for dispatch
purposes.
General Ferreras, who represents the
Venezuelan revolutionists at Ciudad Boil
var. has collected $3.50, 900 in duties since
the Venezuelan blockade Of the Orinoco
was raised. OF this sum SIS, 900 has beer
used to repay money borrowed from mer-
chants. He has also sent a large order fol-
munitions Of war to Port Of Spain.
washington Has No News.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2i.-omcials Of the
State department announced tonight thai
there was nothing to make public re.
garding the latest phase Of the Venezuelan
embroglio. Such dispatches from the
American embassies in Europe and from
Mr.. Bowen at Caracas regarding Venez'
uelan matters as came to Washington wer'
Of a confidential character.
Although the president was absent from
Washington today he was in telegraphl
communication with the officials, but Their,
were no definite Developments as far al
could be learned. and 1t may be a day Of
two before the European governments re-
ply to the last suggestion urging arbitra.
ton under The Hague treaty.
calls Germany I~nsincere.
ATLANTA, Ca, Dec. 21.-Colonel VIII
liam L. Scruggs Of Atlanta was today in
terviewed on the Venezuelan embroglio
He was appointed United States minIste
to Venezuela by President Harrison an
served from 1883 to 1898. For four year
afterwards he represented the Venezuelan
government in its boundary dispute will
Great Britain.
Colonel Scruggs said In part:
II is undoubtedly Germany's design I
see how far II can go without. becominI
States.
II wants to force our hand on the Mon
roe doctrine and make US say whether W
are willing to modify or to assume respon
sibility for the acts OF the country tha
Is to a certain extent under our protec
ton. This is already apparent In the quer
as to whether the United States will as
sumo the responsibility of making Venel
uelR comply with the arbitrator's awar
/ Think England is sincere in its desiT
simply to, collect a debt, but there
every evidence that Germany has othe
important objects In view.
While In my opinion the Monroe doctrin
will be in no wise affected by the preser
prospect for a peaeeable and satisfactor
settlement through the pnit1d States q
arbitrator, the issue will have to be face
populous that the settlement of those rtc
South american countries cannot DO longG
delayed. III European nations cannot a.
quire territory in South America their sui
jects will nevertheless continue to go Their
The result will be the United States wi
ultimately be called upon to do one of tw
thlngs-either abandon or greatly modif
the Monroe doctrine so that European nj
tons can adequately protect their ow
subjects or assume a sort OF sovereign
over the South American republics ar
become responsible for their good behavio
Neither horn Of the dilemma Is pleasant
contemplate,
castfo,s policy is far from meeting. II
approval OF the best citizens and tho.
who have Venezuela's interests at hear
He Is no doubt responsible in a large mea
ure for the difficulties that now confrOl
his country.
BoRAX HAS NO ILL EFFECT