The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-15
Food for Thought.
Y T WOULD be untrue 10 say that
the Venezuelan situation is not
Il disuuieting to Americans. 1t is

Y L WOULD be untrue 10 say that
the Venezuelan situation is not
Il disduietlg to Americans. 1t is
chock full of the possibilities of
mischief The Monroe doctrine is SIM
pie enough as we interpret it ana if
the English and the Germans would
look ut it through our spnctacles, all
would go well.
But as a matter of fact. the European
view of the Monroe doctrine is neither
sympathetic nor exact. Leaving Great
Britain out of the problem for argu-
ments sake. ana because the reasons
why she should wish to avoid coming
into any estrangement with us far out
number and outweigh any conceivable
considerations to the contrary, the case
for Germany stands about as follows:
The government Of Venezuela is, re-
sponsible TO citizens of Germany for
certain damages inflicted and has not
only not paid, but has actually delayed.
sQuirnled and broWbeateu in its efforts
to avoid its responsibility. Patience
having ceased. Germany, with England $
cooperation. has set forth to enforce
payment. Payment can be enforced
only in two ways; either by the seizure
of customs or BY the taking of territory.
Should the customs not suffice. territory
would have to be taken on the claims
go unsatistied. The chances are that
the customs will prove insufficient, es-
pecially If Venezuela should decide to
draw itself up haughtily in its noun
cupaton OF its ports its customary for
ciSn commerce.
Here comes in the Monroe doctrine,
which, while acquiescins III the seizure
of customs, forbids the aliena ton of
territory. But if the customs are in
sufficient and territory may not De
alienated, how is Germany to get what
is coming to her? No provision exists
in the Monroe doctrine for American
intervention to prevent among mongrel
American republics misrula such as de-
NelopS these crises, nor does the Unit
ed States offer from its own revenues
to reimburse European creditors to
whom one of the customary interna-
tiunal methods of reimbursement--th
'''NiAS "NNi VI tSAi'lDiS lclDilucll
by our edict. II we look at the
subject from the German standpoint we
see that our position is at variance with
international usage. that it is like that
of the dog in the manager, and that ii
may be cOmbattcd whenever some Other
nation feels strong enough to defy il.
1t may readily be conceded that the
authorities at Berlin are acting in good
faith toward the authorities ut Wash.
ington and are friendly and Correct"
But ii the Venezuelan case should go
on until the German lighting spirit was
aroused and some subordinate on the
scene OF strife should overstep the linz
its set by us, is it inconceivuble that
Berlin might vary from its belnted re-
pudiaton of Won Dedierichs at Manila
and resolve under cover of England's
friendly attitude TO put once for all
Il clamp upon the Monroe doctrine"
Not everybody in official position is at
liberty to say all he thinks, hut we ven-
ture to say that the thoughts which are
in the minds of our executive officials
concerning this Venezuelan dispute,
would, If clothed in words, make mighty
interesting reading.