Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-22
WAR WITH VENEZUELA
Formal Declaration to Be
Made at Trinidad
BY ACTING GOVERNOR
GREAT BRITAIN'S MEN TO AVOID
COMPLICATIONS.
English and German Notes Presented
Inviting President Roosevelt to
Act as Arbitrator.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad. December
22.-Oficial announcement is made here
that Sir Courtenay Knollys. the acting
governor, will issue today a special roya
gazette containing a declaration Of wal
against Venezuela. This act is one Of for
mality. taken with the intention to legalizt
the proclamation Of the blockade.
The Mirror, in an inspired article, says:
"All commercial intercourse between the
two peoples is interdicted When hostile
vessels capture a neutral the property on
board is not affected. A free ship makes
free goods They may capture the enemy's
ships and the enemy's property on board,
but they must spare neutral vessels and all
goods therein, whether belonging to the
enemy or to neutrals, and also neutral
goods found in the enemys vessels"
The declaration will have the effect Of
legalizing the seizure Of Venezuela war
ships.
President Asked to Arbitrate.
BERLIN, December 22.-The notes of
Germany and Great Britain formally in
viting President Roosevelt to act as arbi-
traitor in the Venezuelan dispute were
handed to the United States ambassador
here and to the United States charge daft
faires in London today.
BERLIN. December 22-The small Ger
man cruiser Sperber, whose reconstruction
has just been finished. has been ordered to
join Commodore Scheder's squadron in Ven
ezuelan waters. She will sail from Will
helmshaven in two or three days. The
Sperber, besides her own complement, takes
seventy-five men to man the Restaurador,
captured by the Germans from Venezuela.
The blockade of the Venezuelan coast
will continue until a definite arrangement
for arbitration has been reached. Germany
will be we'll satisfied if President Roosevelt
undertakes the task. His acceptance would
be considered a sufficient guarantee that
Venezuela would pay If she lost. Asking
President Roosevelt to arbitrate was the
emperor's personal suggestion. An indirect
inquiry three or four days ago not eliciting
refusal from the President, a request has
now been made in direct form.
Preference for Roosevelt.
Although Germany is ready to submit her
case to any impartial tribunal, she would
prefer President Roosevelt for the reason
that President Castro is more likely to ac
cept the decision Of the President Of the
United States than that Of The Hague tri-
bunal.
If President Castro evades payment under
President Roosevelt's award the people Of
the United States, it Is claimed here, would
with positive pleasure see the allies compel
him to pay up.
The United States Is considered here as
from the affair with all credit.
The Monroe doctrine has been acknowl-
edged by two of the greatest powers of Eu-
rope, President Roosevelt has been ac-
cepted as arbitrator by all the parties con-
cerned and the South American states have
been persuaded by events that the United
States is the only power between them and
Europe The only annoying thing to the
German government has been the alleged
readiness Of Americans to suspect Germany
OF secret designs. The reported extraor-
dinary dlstrust of Germany has been pain
full surprise to the emperor and to the cab
inet