New-York tribune., 1902-12-11
sFRJors WORK AT Ia GUATR4.


z-apoznaIan affairs have reached a critical
mint Great Britain and Germany are fulfill
| ing the menace of their ultimatum. They have
seized the Venezuelan navy. or the bulk OF IT.
/ and have taken possession of the port and GUS
! tom house of La Guayra. the chief port OF the
! country Thus they propose to collect or 10
! exact payment Of their claims against the
| Venezuelan Government On his part FTesl-
dent Castro is still defiant He has aroltrarly
arrested all British and German subjects Ill
Caracas for no reason other than that
they are British and German. and though
he has since released some of them. ana may
release ALL on the representations OF the Amer
lean Minister, his action has probably compli-
Gated matters and subjected him to further
claims for indemnity Thus far no shot has
been fired and no violence has been done. But
there is no telling at what moment some blow
NAV he struck which will make settlement OF
difficulties still harder than it seems at present
There is occasion for the most earnest hope
that no such complication will occur, but that
peace will be kept and amicable adjustment
Of affairs will speedily be reached.
There is room, too, for division Of sentiment
concerning the dispute and the manner in which
the European powers are compelling settle
ment. The present government of Venezuela
does not command the highest degree of sym
pathy and respect. 1t is dictatorial and Is
opposed by a large part of the Venezuelan peo-
pIe It's conduct has not been such as TO COM
mend it to the world. 1t ought TO pay its debts
and discharge all legitimate obligations which
rest upon it 1t cannot hope to find in the Mon
roe Doctrine or in the United St2tes screen
against the consequences of Ill doing. On the
other hand, it doubtless seems to some rather
harsh to exact payment of claims so peremp
hon VFTn1Q
embarrassed with the results Of a costly war.
and it may seem arbitrary to do so by such
means Other countries, including some in
Europe have delayed to meet their undoubted
obligations and TO furnish indemnity for their
misdeeds and yet have not been subjected TO
force as Venezuela now is The question may
not illogicaIly be raised why Venezuela should
be treated more harshly than other equally bad
offenders.
It is none of this country's business, save in
the most general way, so long as American
rights are not impaired and American policies
are not infringed upon. 1t is to be assumed
that care will be taken upon those points. As
surances have already been given that there
will be attempt at permanent occupation or
spoliation of Venezuelan territory-something
which the United States could not, of course,
regard with complacency. All that will be
sought is a Satisfaction or just claims, and
when that is gained the two European powers
will withdraw from the scene with far more joy
than they felt on entering it With the United
States Minister at Caracas on friendly terms
with President Castro and at the same time in
charge of British and German interests, and
with the Washington government closely
watching everything that is DONE We may be
confident that American interests and American
policies will be we'll protected. There would be
reason for sincere satisfaction if through the
good offices of the American Minister, or of the
American Government, further arbitrary pro-
ceedings on either side might be averted, and
just and peaceful settlement of the trouble be
attained. AS it now is, the incident is a pain
full one. and one which must cause anxiety
however confident we may be that in the end
all will be made right.