The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-18
WILL NOT RESIST WAR BLOCKADE.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-There will be
no peaceful blockade" of Venezuelan ports.
for according to statements of officials
representing the allied powers. a state of
war already exists and the blockade will
be an incident of the war. The officials
here reached the conclusion yesterday that
the projected peaceful blockade" could not
be recognized as against United States
shipping at least. If the allies had sought
to exclude Venezuelan shipping from entry
to Venezuelan ports that might have been
permitted but they could not exclude
United States I'm regular business unless a
genuine state of war was recognized. Re-
gardless of the merits of the present con-
troversy. the State Department felt that
the vast interests of American trade de-
manded that this rule be adopted and ad-
hered to, else American trade might be
crippled at the will of any naval power that
full blockade" If Great Britain and Ger
many wished to exclude American mer-
chantmen from Venezuelan ports it would
have been necessary for them to exclude
all shipping. including their own. a condi-
ton which could only be met by recogniz-
ing the existence. of a state of war and
blockade"
There will be no effort on the part of this
government to resist war blockade of the
Venezuelan coast against merchant
ships Custom requires that due notice
shall be given of the blockade. and that
fact, taken in connection with the declara-
tions that have been made i'm the British
Parliament by the authorized representa-
tives of the British government, will, 1t is
understood, be sufficient to justify all neu-
trail nations in the understanding that a
state of war does actually exist This
might in the end require the issue of a
proclamation of neutrality by President
Roosevelt, but this. 1T is stated, would not
be timely now.
The State Department has received no
response thus far to the messages sent to
the European foreign offices relative to the
arbitration proposition. 1t is not known
here whether President Castro will consent
to apologize as condition precedent to ar
bitration, but il Is hoped that Minister
Bowen can induce him to do So IL this will
be sufficient to meet the demands of the
allies. 1t Is pointed out here. however, that
the further prosecution of attacks of Vene-
zuelan forts will make an adjustment just
that much more difficult. If apologies are
te0QeTeu anu dCCtptcu tnen tHe CElticdi
phase of the situation will be removed and
some time may be spent in an arrangement
of the basis upon which the arbitration
should be conducted This will be diff
cult problem, for il is anticipated that the
allies will base their acceptance of the ar
bitratfon on an agreement by Venezuela 10
instruct the arbitrators TO accept certain
principles in advance which would COM
nit Venezuela to a recognition of an in
debtedness OF about $15.000.000. Still the
| State Department is hopeful that arbitra-
tion will prevail. for the alternative is now
realized to be actual war between the allies
| and Venezuela. 1t Is believed here that
Germany. at least. is not anxious TO enter
upon this state. A declaration of war
would at once clothe the Venezuelans with
| the full rights of belligerency, and this
might greatly protract the efforts of the
allies to subdue President Castro.
The only cablegram received at the State
| Department from Minister Bowen over
night was the announcement that the
Italian minister at Caracas had requested
| him to take charge OF Italian interests In
Venezuela, which under the State Depart
ments Instructions he was about to do and
| the minister was leaving Caracas This
| cablegram was sent from Caracas last
night.
Mr. Bowens position is realized to be
| one of extraordinary difficulty He is now
| in charge of the interests of Great Britain.
| Germany. Italy and Holland. besides those
| of the United States. and may be called
on 20 take charge of those of the remainder
! of the European countries with the possible
| exception of France. which remains on
| pleasant relations with Venezuela.
Herr Won Hollebens the German ambassa-