The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-12-18

Offers TO
ARBITRAIE
VENEZUELA ASKS MINISTER
BOWEN TO PROPOSE AR.
6lTRATIoN.
CASTRO'S DEFIANT ATTITUDE
MAY LEAD ALLIES TO BACK DOWN,
OR FURTHER coMPLicATE
MATTERS.
GREAT BRITAIN DOESN'T LIKE IT
cAsTRo's PROPOSITION FOR AR.
sITRATIoN COMES TOO
LATE.
CASTRO'S DEFIANT ATTITUDE
GREAT BRITAIN DOESN'T LIKE IT

Caracas, Dec. is. - The Venezuelan
government has asked United States
| Minister Bowen to act as arbitrator In
the CONTROVERSY with Great Britain
and Germany.
Every one in Caracas believes the
situation to be desperate end threat
| ems war unless Minister Bowen sue
| ceeds in having the matters in dispute
! submitted to arbitration.
The government has taken preserva-
! tive measures at La Guayra. All the
| deposits of coal at the navy yard and
| all the British cars on the La Guayra
! railroad have been brought here, rem
dering impossible the transportation
of the allied troops by rail.
The governor of Caracas has issued
| the following decree:
can Verczuelans living in the fed
| eral district between the ages of eigh-
teen and fifty years must enroll them
selves in the militia; any such person
refusing to enroll voluntarily, as
patriotism demands, will be declared
traitor and SEM before the tribunals"
Serious Complications Likely.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE definite
attitude of President Castro Of Ven-
ezuela will lead either to England and
Germany backing down through
proposition to arbitrate or France and
possibly the United States will be
drawn into an affair that viii assume
serious proportions.
If there is an attempt to possess
themselves of all the customs re-
ceipts on the part of Great Britain and
Germany protests will follow from
France, which holds claims aggregat-
ing more than the combined claims OF
England and Germany, which 1t is
understood already has arranged for
their payment on An installment plan.
out of the Venezuelan custom receipts.
Assert the Msnroe Doctrine.
Should England and Germany de-
clare war upon Venezuela they could
not hope to make Venezuela pay the
bills except by seizure of territory, and
here is where the United States would
be compelled to assert the Monroe
doctrine.
The sinking of the Venezuelan war
ships was an act of war, and Great
Britain and Germany are endeavoring
to lay the blame upon each other.
The request of President Castro that
Minister Bowen propose arbitration TO
England and Germany was considered
by the cabinet yesterday morning and
a message was sent to the minister
saying that this government would be
glad to have him act for Venezuela in
this matter and suggest arbitration TO
the allied powers. 1t is felt aere that
this suggestion might be
Received With Favor
by England and Germany to give them
plan of retreat from some of the
mistakes they have made. The state
| department has transmitted this COM
munication to London and Berlin, as
| 1t has other dispatches from Ven
ezuela. What attitude those govern
| ments will take on this proposition the
| state department does not venture to
| guess. But the tone of the English
| press is accepted as an indication that
| It may not be unwelcome at this time.
The British and German foreign Of.
! fees are trying to shift all RESPONSE
bility for the destruction of Venezuelan
! naval vessels and both powers are
moving cautiously, as they are con-
fronted with warlike demonstrations
from President Castro.
Proposal Comes Too Late.
| london, Dec. Is. - The Venezuelan
crisis is regarded less seriously here
| this morning. Lord LansdoWne's
| speech is held to show that the stu.
alton is in no way alarming, and, al
though the opinion is expressed that
| President Castro's reported request
for arbitration has come too late, this
step on his part is welcomed as a
proof Of his anxiety to withdraw some
his position.
The morning newspapers express
various opinions as to the arbitration
proposals, but there Is q general agree.
ment that if,'by guarantee made by
the United States or other means,
| Venezuela could be bound to carry out
an award, no reason exists why Great
Britain should refuse to consent to ar
| bitration. 1t is believed, however,
that neither Great Britain or Germany
is likely to accept the arbitration pro-
posal.
Thanks Due United States.
Berlin, Dec 15.--All the newspapers
having government leanings carefully
bring out the fact that thanks are due
to the United States for it's resoiute
! protection through Minister Bowen of
| German and British subjects at Car
acas. Throughout the official press
there appear inspired reaffirmations of
the statement that Germany does not
intend the slightest infringement of
the Monroe doctrine as defined by the
state department at Washington.
Foreign Residents Take Refuge.
| London. Dec, ia dispatch IN tho
Daily Mail from Willemstad. Curacao,
dated Dec. IL, says that the foreign
residents of Puerto Cabello are taking
/ refuge on board the German cruiser
Vineta and the British cruiser Ariadne
and that these vessels are threatening
to lombard the port.