Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-25

LOuUOu, sept. Z0--ln6 Associated
Press is in position to announce that
diplomatic relations between Great
Britain and Venezuela are on the verge
OF being severed. Almost any hour
may bring the announcement that the
| British minister at Caracas has been
given his passport with corresponding
| action toward the Venezuelan repre-
sentative in London. The cause of
the crisis does not seem to be confined
to any particular incident, but con-
slsts OF various differences which cul-
minated in Venezuela assuming such
an angry attitude as to leave Downing
street fully impressed with the belief
that the Venezuelan government in
TENDS TO force matters to a crucial
issue. That a diplomatic rupture
would result in hostilities is a cont tin
gency thus far scarcely contemplated.
The view Of the foreign office is that
affairs have reached a stage where if
is impossible to deal satisfactorily
with Venezuela in any matter which
may come up. In proof of this con-
tention the foreign office Instances the
report of the United States minister
at Caracas, announcing that the Vene-
Zuelan government had protested
against the British flag being raised
over Patos island over which the Ven
ezuelan government claimed the SOW
ereignty. According to the British
governments understanding, Patos
island belongs to Great Britain as
much as Trinidad, and so far as
known no questions as to it's owner
ship has ever arisen. The inhabitants
OF the island have recently been shot
or otherwise endangered through the
action Of the Venezuelans, whether
by government or revolutionary parti-
sans is not known
For the purposes of protection of
local West Indians the authorities
have ordered that the British flag be
prominently displayed on the island
and hence the protest which the for
eign office says is only one OF many.
An exceptionally prominent official
said to the Associated Press last even
ing:
affairs in Venezuela are so hone
lessly muddled that we can get moth
Ing done. There is no concealing the
fact that the Venezuelan government
has made heated protests to our min
lister. The chief grievance appears to
be the allegation that the British
government is aiding a revolution
n &c IL.
perfectly baseless. We only wish that
the United States would take over the
whole country and then, perhaps, we
could get some peace. Of all disturb
ances of the last decade the present
seems to be the worst. This, COM
bined with the attitude of the nominal
government makes us somewhat in
different to any action which may
take place. The Venezuelans appear
Indifferent to any action which may
take place. The Venezuelans appear
inclined to be rather reckless, thanks
chiefly to what I presume is a mistaken
notion that Washington will protect
them from the results of their oN n
folly, however, inimical that might be
to the lives and property of British
subjects and those of other Euro
peans. AS we understand Monroeism
Venezuela is quite mistaken in this
matter
Patos the Cause.
Washington, Sept. 23-No notice
of the strain of diplomatic relations be
tween Great Britain and Venezuela
has reached the department Of state.
If such is the case, however, depart
ment officials would have no hesitation
in ascribing the cause to a dispute
which mas been revived over the own
erShip of PatOs, or Goose island, lying
in the dragons mouth between Trini-
dad and the Venezuelan coast. Min
lister Bowen last week informed the
department of the fact that the dis
pute had taken on an acute phase
through the assertion of British SOW
ereignty over the island and as he a;
the same time said Venezuela had pro-
tested against the hosting of the Brit
ish flag it is not doubted that to this
incident must be traced any more ser
ious difficulty between the two cOun-
| @,,io