The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-19

/. : -.
Caracas. December 17.-Indicauo1s
here are that Venezuela will yield to
the demands of the allies.
The leading citizens of Caracas have
addressed a joint note TO President
Castro asking him to give full powers
to United States Minister Bowen to
effect termination of the present diff
hculty.
ibis note was transmitted to Presi-
derfC Castro at l o'clock this afternoon
1t is signed by all the leading mer-
chants, bankers and agriculturalists Of
Caracas. 1t reflects truly the concs1-
sus of current opinion among the ousi-
ness element of this city. The men
who signed the note will meet again
tonight to discuss ways and means of
obtaining money with which Vene-
zuela oaa meet her obligations, as well
as the guarantees which it will be pos
sible to offer creditors. The note is as
follows:
Caracas. December Il, 1902 To the
president of the United States of Vene-
zuela:
"Sir: The undersigned having met
with the purpose of offering their aid
to the government of Venezuela in the
present conflicting situation, which has
been created by the aggressive atti-
tude of Germany and Great Britain
and upon your request to give our op:n-
ion in writing, we address you in the
following terms:
In view of the acts of violence al
ready committed and of the absolute
Importance Of Venezuela to meet force
with force in response to the allied ac-
ton of Germany and Great Britain, IN
view of the fact that Venezuela has
exhausted all the means required by
civilization and diplomacy to put an end
to the present situation, and the GOV
ernment and the people of Venezuela
having compiled honorably and wurthi-
Iy to the demands of national honor, wS
!, consider, with all due respect, that the
moment to yieid to force has arrive !
eve therefore, respectfully recnI:o-
mend that full powers be given TO the
minister of the United States, of North
America, authorizing him to carrS out
proper measures to terminate the pres
ent conflict in the manner least pre-
JUDGED to the interests of Venezuela" !"
The note is signed by about Two
hundred prominent citizens of Caracas
.Bsscknde of the Venezuelan Coast.
berlin. December IA formal noti-
ficatioa of the blockade OF the Vene-
zuelan coast by the war vessels Of the
allied powers is likely to be issued 20
morrow. 1t is understood that ships
of the United States will be on pre- -
ly the same basis as those of other
nations.
Will Not Resist n War blockade.
Washington. December I-There
will be no effort on the part Of this
government to resist a war blockade OF
the Venezuelan coast as against msr-
chant ships. Custom requires that due
notice shall be given of the blockade
and that fact, taken in connection with
the declarations that have been ma lie
in the British parliament by the au-
thorized representatives of the British
government will, it is understood, lie
sufficient to justify all neutral nations
IL the understanding that staCe of
war does actually exist. This might
I'm the end require the issue of procle :
nation of neutrality by President
Roosevelt but this. it is stated, would
not be timely now.
Proposals to Arbitrate are In
adequate.
= Berlin, December 17.-Germany con
siders that President Castros proposal
to arbitrate Ia inadequate, unaCccm-
y panied as 1t is with guarantees to ray
. df the arbitrators decide against him,
and reply il that sense has bean, or
7 will be, sent through Minister Bowen.
Great Britain will make a similar an
swer. These statements are not made
officially, but are derived from an eX-
cellent source.
Italian Minister Leaves Caracas.
Caracas, Venezuela, December H.
The Italian minister left Caracas this
morning. At eight o'clock, Minister
Bowen went to the Italian legation II
q state carriage, accompanied by Sec
retary Russell, and took the Italian
minister, Signor de Riva, and the Ital.
ian Consul, Siglor Gazzurelh, and con-
Quoted them to the railroad station
where they were met by the leading
Itahan residents of this city. Mr.