The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1902-12-20
DEMANDS ON VENEZUELA
Authentic Copies of the Demands
Presented by Germany and
Great Britain.
THEY MUST Be TAKEN As ULTIAATUM,
The Entire Subject Traversed and
Precedents Cited to show That
Nenexuein's Defense Against the
Claims Is Not Well Grounded and
Can Not He Admitted.

Caracas. Venezuela. Dec. l4.-The
following are authentic copies of the
demands presented by the German
and British ministers Monday. De-
cember s, before einbarking at La
Guaira:
The British Demand.
ITO the Minister Of Foreign Affairs:
Replying to your excellency's note
of the 4th inst..I have the honor to in
form you that have received instruc-
tions from his majesty's government
to point out to the Venezuelan gov
ernment, in writing. that regarding
the steamer Ban Right, the British
government have given full explana.
tions. and have shown that there ex-
lists no legitimate ground for COM
plant. Nor does his majesty's gov
ernment think there Is any reason to
attribute blame TO the authorities of
Trinidad. who only acted conform
ably with instructions.
Il have the honor to further ex-
press that his majesty's government
regrets the situation which has
arisen, but can not accept your note
as sufficient reply to my communion
tion, nor as indicative of the intention
of the Venezuelan government to sat
isfy the claims which his maiesty's
government have brought forward,
and ii must be understood that they
| include all well-founded claims which
have arisen in consequence of the last
civil war and the previous ones, and
the i'll treatment and imprisonment
| of British subjects, and also include
an arrangement for the foreign debt.
! have asked the Venezuelan govern
ment to make declaration that they
recognize in principle the justice of
these claims, that they will immedi-
ately make compensation in the navi-
CATION cases, and the cases above
Intentional and in those in which Brit
ish subjects have been uninstly inn
prisoned or i'll treated; and that re.
specting other claims, they will ac-
cept the decision of mixed commits
sion as to the amount and guaranty
which should be given for payment.
] have also expressed the hope that
the Venezuelan government will defer
to these demands, and not obligate
his majesty's government to take
steps TO obtain satisfaction.
II have added that his majesty's
government has been informed of the
claims of the German government
against Venezuela, and that the two
governments have agreed 20 operate
jointly for the purpose of obtaining
an arrangement of all their claims,
and that his majesty's government
will require the immediate payment of
sum equal TO that which, in the
first case, should be paid to the Ger
man government. Any balance after
the payment of urgent claims shall
be held on account for the liquidation
of claims which might go before the
commission.
81 have, moreover, instructions
from his majesty's government To
state clearly that this communication
must be taken as an ultimatum.
I6igned.l "HAGGARD,
British Minister"
"To His Excellency, Senior Lopez Bae
ralt, Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Caracas, Dec. 7.
The German Demand.
Mr.. Minister: In the name of the
government Of his majesty the Ger
man emperor, ] have the honor TO
make the following communication to
the government of Venezuela;
"The imperial government has been
duly informed of the note of the
minister of foreign affairs of yene-
zuela dated the 9th OF May last. In
that note the Venezuelan government
refused the demands of the imperial
government relative To the payment
of German claims arising out of the
civil wars of 1898 TO 1900, and to sup
port their refusal, referred 10 argu-
ments already put forward. The i'm
perial government even after examin-
ing those arguments anew do not
think they can consider them satis-
factory. The government of the re-
public argues, in the first place, that
owing to the interior legislation Of
the country IL is not possible to ar
range the claims of foreigners aris-
ing from the wars by the diplomatic
course, thus asserting the doc
trine that diplomatic interyen-
ton is excluded by interior
legislation. That doctrine is not in
conformity with international law,
since the question of Judging wheth-
er such Intervention is admissible
must be approached. not according
to the dispositions Of the interior leg
islafion. but in accordance with the
principles of international law.
.sThe Venezuelan government.
with the object Of making a demon
stration Of diplomatic defense, claim
that this is inadmissible, and relies
on the twentieth article Of the treaty
of amity, commerce and navigation
between the imperial government and
the Republic Of Colombia of the 23rd
of July, 1892. This argument Is
wanting in efficiency, firstly, because
the treaty is valid only between the
German empire and Colombia. and
| sssee=:s$e Section Of said article puts
no obstacle in the way Of diplo-
matte defense against German claims
arising out Of acts committed by the
Colombian government or its organs.