Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-12-13
VENEZUELAN NAVY SEIZED
British and Germans ADOPT Vigorous
Measures TO Collect Claims

Measures TO Collect Claims
washington. speciai.-The state De-
partmenf has been advised that
peaceful blockade" exists at LaCuaira.
which is the port o. Caracas. The cap
itai % Venevueis. The difference be-
tween this state and state 81 var Is
not very strongly marked. except N
the opportunity afforded oy tae peace
fui blockade 20 effect a settlement
without recourse 20 actual bloodshec-
The situation s. here regarded as criti-
cal
Minister BoWcn. % Caracas. has ac-
cepted the trust placed upon him 70
look after the interests 81 British and
German citizens in Venezuela and %
has brought him into conflict with
I President Castro. lie has iniorrs "a tho
state Department that a number %
] these citizens were arrested in Cara
+ cas- Mr. Bowen a; once addressed him
,elf 20 President Castro 20 secure their
release He represented that be had
been charged with The care of British
AMI German Subjects IN Venezuela. but
I fIf-alhMN I. arNIW NAN WI AAAsAA- o. AA1fa
20 recognize his authority Finaey the
minister convinced him tha; he was
acting within his rights and President
Castro consented with reluctance 20 re-
lease the principal prisoners Mr..
Bowen will insist upon the release Of
the remainder. Nothing in his reports
p 10 the state Department indicate ths
r . Nr.~~aa or.
e ers except that they were Germans and
4 British
4 The latest report from Minister Bow
r sn 70 the Department confirmed tn
l. press dispatches relative 20 the seizur'
q y the Venezuelan navy "a the port o
4 Caracas Wednesday. Ia Is now expect
e "a that the next step will be the an
r nouncement OF formal blockade o
e that part by the British and Germa
warships IL IS believed here that til
l., will not stop the entry into the POT
% d American ships. but that II the Ian
81 their cargoes the British and German
4 will insist upon Collecting tho reguls
ir Venezuelan rate OF customs duties al
,r. IN them. OF course this viii invol'
20 Inc seizure OF the custom house. ar
.e. In tnrn il is expected that Preside
AZ Castro. unless he concludes 10 ahand'
"a. further resistance. will issue deer
he losing the port 20 entry. and viii J
=, .ist upon collecting duties anew up
~ The same goods n they arc passed Ga
i. he interior OF the country beyond L
an cuira.
80 II was said az tho British and c.
man embassies today that the action
President Castro In ordering the
rest OF an subjects OF the British a
md German governments Ia Caracas y
ur- without precedent in the history Of g
est uized countries supposedly at pc
lily with each other and that such act
IS would Ore regarded as sufficient grol
I as for a declaration o. war. Indeed.
The members OF the diplomatic corps b
u is REGARDED as being such decla
zion I'm itself
pre- Nfuistrr BowCn'- prompt action
ing demanding 0f President Castro the
tout .yase az the German and British s
Of iccts arrested in Caracas yesterday
III, IN accordance with the plan agI
anon between the German and Brt
e ID ambassadors and Secretary Hay "
ci'c the former called az the state Dep
that ment fully three weeks ago, and In
hey fclnation Cf the present ugly situa
'ply. % Venezuela requested that the Tn
allie States minister at Caracas be per
gan led TO protect the lives and prOpert
pply an citizens OF the London and b.
men governments I'm the Southern An
the can republics. To is understood
President Castro was advised or
com action
the 70 was pointed out by an Euro
ID in diplomat Of high rank that IN for
mer- Minister Bowen 90 demand the re
some 4 the arrest subjects. President &
b 20. is acting dlrectely contrary 10 th'
lany. sire of the Washington govcrnmel
lston order so become involved In the i
'egis- national dispute Both Germany
felt Great Britain it was saic. fully a
The ciate The position 81 the United :
Nor ana are determined that tns cor
zero. shall rot he unnecessarily drawn
the difficulty