Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-15
ENGLAND CALLS HALT
To Stop Aggressive Action
Against Venezuela.
GERMANY OBDURATE
NOT DISPOSED TO CONSIDER AR-
BITRATION.
This Government Has Approved Min
lister Bowen's Proposal to
Effect Settlement.
GERMANY OBDURATE

LplNboN, l)tCtIuptT lo-1 he ASsoCldtcU
Press has reason to believe that orders will
be or already have been sent to the British
commander in Venezuelan waters to take
no further aggressive action at present
pending a decision being arrived at on the
proposal for arbitration.
An expression Of a desire for peaceful
settlement of the difficulties has been re-
ceived In London from the Venezuelan gov
eminent.
This came In the form of a proposal
through the United States government to
submit the claims of British and German
subjects to arbitration. which Lord Lans-
downe announced later in the day in the
house Of lords, Is now under consideration
by the British government"
Lord Lansdowne added: I'VE are greatly
indebted to the good offices Of the United
States minister at Caracas
1t was learned this evening that the pro-
posals now before the British government
are the original proposals forwarded by
Minister Bowen, but which now have re-
ceived strong support from the United
States government
The under foreign secretary, Lord Gram
borne. denied in the house Of commons
today that the British commander was re-
sponsfble for the sinking of the Vene-
zuelan ships.
Germans Sank the Ships.
The under secretary said his majesty's
government had been informed that the
German commodore found it necessary to
sink two ships, but Great Britain was not
responsible for this
Mr.. Schwann, advanced liberal, then
moved an adjournment of the house to dis
cuss Venezuelan matters. The motion will
be discussed at o'clock this evening.
A parliamentary paper giving the cor
respondence relating to Venezuelan affairs
was issued this afternoon. 1t begins with
memorandum which, after recounting the
existing causes of complaint against Ven
eZuela including the seizures of British
ships and the protestation against the Vene
zuelan consul at Trinidad exacting i'm
proper fees for collecting customs dues for
Venezuela in Trinidad, of which mo notice
was taken by Venezuela" says: Besides
these specific outrages and grounds for
complaint, there are causes in which Brit
fsh subjects and companies have large
claims against Venezuela.
Case of the Ban Righ.
"The Venezuelan government declined to
accept the explanations and assurances Of
his ma ajesty's government in regard to the
Ban Righ as in any way modifying the situ-
alton. As result the position Of his
majestys legation at Caracas is rendered
quite impra cticable for diplomatic purposes,
as all repre- esentations, protests and remon-
strances now remain disregarded and un-
acknowledged
Inc correspondence Wnlcn dates 10 De-
cember 2, shows that SO early as July %
Germany tentatively mentioned the Vene-
zuelan difficulties, and Foreign Secretary
Iansdowne replied that he would be quite
ready to confer with the view of joint ac-
tion. On August Lord Lansdowne warned
the admiralty to prepare for putting press
ure on Venezuela, adding: THE German
ambassador Count Wolff -Metternch has
suggested that the two powers concerned
should partake in a joint naval demonstra-
ton
On August 1 the British minister, Mr..
Haggard, notified Lord IAnsdowne that he
had personally presented to the acting for
eign minister a note recording his formal
protest against the 'intolerable conduct of
the Venezuelan government" stating that
unless prompt compensa ton was paid to
the injured persons he would take the
necessary steps to exact reparation.
Mr.. Haggard concludes: The minister
accepted the note quietly. His final re-
mark was that they were used to these
communications. i said that might be the
case, but not from England"
August 4 Mr. Haggard informed Lord
Lansdowne that the Venezuelan foreign
minister had definitely stated that until
the Ban Righ matter is settled satisfactor-
fly to the interests Of both nations the
Venezuelan government cannot entertain
any question on a different subject
Proposal of Admiral Douglas.
On September q Vice Admiral Douglas
suggested to the admiralty that 1t would be
necessary in order to bring effective pres
sure on Venezuela to blockade the ports of
La Guaira, Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo
toward the end Of November and seize all
Venezuelan gunboats until the demands
are complied with"
Lord Lansdowne. under date of October
q says the blockade is "open to some CD
lection" but he indorses the seizure of the
vessels.
In the next communication, dated Novem-
hnr r-1
d'Affaires Buchanan at Berlin that Ger
many Is prepared to Join Great Britain in a
final warning. and that 1t had been agreed
that the first step should be the seizure of
Venezuelan vessels.
''As to the joint execution of measures of
coercion" says Lord Lansdowne, the Ger
man government recognized that there was
sharp distinction in the character of the
British and German claims but that never
theless the two claims ought to stand or
fall together and that we ought TO exclude
the possibility of settlement between
Venezuela and one of the two powers with
out an equally satisfactory settlement with
the other"
In further communication to Mr. Buch-
anan, dated November II, Lord Lansdowne
said that Germany concurred in the view
that any joint action should be maintained
until the demands of both governments are
satisfied.
Appeal to British Fairness.
Mr.. Haggard on November II told Lord
Lansdowne that the Venezuelan govern
ment had reiterated that 1t considered the
Ban Righ question and the facilities af-
forded the revoutionaries by the authori-
ties at Trinadad to be all important and
would be much gratlfied IL Great Britain
would express some desire for arriving at
an understanding on the subject, adding
that Venezuela therefore appeals to the
sense Of fairness of the British govern
ment-
After settling with Germany the mode of
procedure and the instructions to be sent
10 the naval commanders Lord Lansdowne
on November q informed Mr.. Haggard
thereof and gave instructions as to his
course regarding the presentat ton of the
uitimatum and the ministers departure
from Caracas, which have been since fol-
lowed out.
The foreign office. on November q. ask
ing the admiralty to forward specific In
structions to vice Admiral Douglas, adds:
SHOULD the British legation be withdrawn
from Caracas. IT Is probable that British
interests in Venexueia will be placed in
aharge Of the United Statss minister"