New-York tribune., 1902-12-10
VENEZUELA'S DEBTS.
THE BRITISH CLAIMS
Mostly for RaitDay and Harbor I'm.
proUenaents---Interea Guar
nnteed by Government.

Especial 10 The New-York Tribune by French CableD
Copyright: 1902: By The Tribune Associationl
London. Dec. 10. 1 q m.-The principal Brit
ish creditors whose claims are TO be enforced
by the ultimatun against Venezuela are rail-
way and harbor improvement companies
Some of these companies complain Of defaults
Of interest guaranteed by the Venezuelan Gov
eminent, and another corporation. which took
I'D an issue OF bonds, claims that a considerable
amount Of unpaid interest is due it. There are
also claims for damages TO railways and other
property from losses and also for unpaid
charges for freight the governments ac-
count. The British claims in the main are ba sed
on government defaults or negligence and are
not uncollected private or business debts The
German claims are larger in amount and more
varied in their nature. and the responsibility of
the Venezuelan Government for the redemption
of the obligations is less obvious in certain sec
tions Of the account There are no intimatfons
here of the amounts either of the French or the
American claims. which must be considera BILE
The precautions taken by the United States in
ordering strong feet to the Venezuelan coast
do not escape attention. It is considered a sign
that the Washington authorities are on their
guard against the taking Of too drastic meas
ures on the part either Of Germany or England
for the collection Of a debt from a weak power
distracted with revolution European nations
have been financing railways and harbor
Improvement schemes in South America for
half century, but they have not been acc,ls-
toned 10 depend on naval demonstrations for
the collection of defaulted interests.
The Berlin correspondent of THE Standard
SAYS the fact that England and Germany have
presented separate ultimatums Venezeula
though acting In common in other respects is
due TO the circumstance that their claims on
Venezuela not identical. 1t should how
he sra+ will
ate with England every point. Venezuela
will. therefore, not be able to play off one power
against the other The identical declarations
were made by the German and British ambassa-
dors at Washington, to the effect that the in
terests of American citizens would be strictly
respected, and that measures taken by the
squadrons in Venezuelan ports would have re-
suits OF a permanent nature. The pressure to
be exercised on Venezuela is to be of tempo
raTy character only. The customs Will form the
immediate objective
Lord Rosebery's speech at Spencer House ex-
pressing approval of the Nonconformist policy
in regard TO the Education bill has given great
satisfaction to the radical members of the
House Of Commons 1t is regarded as identity
ing Lord Rosebery more closely with The active
wing OF the Liberal party than anything he has
said since his retirement from the leadership
six years ago The Unionist press throughout
the country follows the lead Of The Times in
denouncing Lord Rosebery for daring to advise
the Nonconforrnists not to submit tamely to the
bin.
Gopsall Hall. Leicestershire. where the King
and Queen are the guests Of Lord Howe, is the
country seat of a family identified with the
naval wars with France and the campaigns In
Canada and the Thirteen Colonies. A large
house party has been invited meet the royal
guests. and there will be partridge drives ana
pheasant shooting for several days. Count Al
bert Mensdorff, Sir Frank Lascelies and the In
eyitable Portuguese minister viii be at Gopsail
with Nj Balfour, Lord Rosebery and the Duke
Of Devonshire. With the Christmas holiday to
be spent at Sandringharn and the subsequent
residence at windsor the King is not likely TO
return TO Buckingham Palace until the hrst
week in February, when court functions VIII De
resumed Parliament is net expected TO reas-
semble before the closing week of February
z