Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-12-20


with saying that he could make no an
nouncement as to whether the offer of
arbitration from Venezuela would be
accepted by Great Britain.
To Announce Blockade.
Berlin, Dec. 18.-A formal notifca-
tion of the blockade of the Venezuelan
coast by the war vessels of the allied
powers is likely to be issued Thursday.
1t is understood that ships of the Unit
ed States will be on precisely the same
basis as those of other nations.
Castro's Offer Inadequate.
Berlin, Dec. 1s.-Germany considers
that President Castro's proposal to ar
bitrate is inadequate, unaccompanied
as it is with guarantees to pay if the
arbitrators decide against him, and a
reply in that sense has been or will
be sent through Minister Bowen. Great
Britain will make similar answer.
These statements are not made Off
cially, but are derived from an excel
lent source.
Germany Not to Seize Island.
Berlin, Dec. 1s.-The foreign office
here denies explicitly that the German
squadron in Venezuelan waters has
orders to seize Margarita island, adding
that no occupation of the territory of
Venezuela will occur.
The foreign Office officials allege that
systematic effort is apparently being
made to represent Germany as the: pro-
pelling power in the coercion of Vene-
zuela, and as being responsible for
all the harsh measures. For instance,
they say, the bombardment of the
forts at Porto Cabello is ascribed to
German initiative, whereas, the officials
say, without reservation, that the
bombardment was at the British COM
mander's suggestion, the Topaze being
the British ship. The German COM
mander participated in the firing as a
loyal ally.
The German government is not in
sisting on more severe measures than
the original plan contemplated, and re-
CARDS, the sinking of the 1.-TWO diminu-
tive, wholly unseaworthy craft" as an
insignificant incident.
Germany and Great Britain are still
considering President Castro's arbi-
tration proposition,but the deibera-
tions have not yet reached a stage
where the results can be published.
The Berlin newspapers Wednesday
print from Kiel statement that the
German cruisers Ariadne, Amazon and
Niobe are again being equipped for de-
parture to Venezuela, but the CORE
spondent of the press is informed Of
fcially that no such orders have been
given and that it will depend later upon
the demands of the blockade whether
additional vessels will be sent.
United States Becoming inpatient.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-The officials
here have come to the conclusion
that the projected peaceful block
ade" of Venezuelan ports cannot be
recognized, as against United States
shipping at least. If the allies seek
to exclude Venezuelan shipping
from entry to Venezuelan ports that
might be permitted, but they cannot
exclude United States ships in regp-
lar business unless q genuine state Of
war is recognized, regardless of the.
merits Of the present controversy.
The state department. feels that the
vast interests of American trade de-
mand that this rule be adopted and
adhered to, else American trade
might be crippled at the will of any
naval power that sought to resort to
the anomalous peaceful blockade"
If Great Britain. and Germany wish
to exclude American merchantmen
from Venezuelan ports they must
exclude shipping, including their own,
a condition which can only be met
by. recognizing the existence of a
state of war and the dismissal of the
present fiction. .s;<.j + = .sTT%s
Spain and Belgium Have Claims.
Senior Ojeda, the Spanish minister,
and Baron Moncheur, the = Belgian
minister, have not received official adj
vices relative to the joint note their.
governments have addressed to Pres
ident Castro, asking that in the event
of settlement of the claims Of the
allied powers, Spain and Belgium be
given similar treatment. The Span
ish minister denies that there is the
slightest proba bility of further ac-
ton ion \ on the part of Spain unless
events in Caracas make it necessary
for the Spanish Representative to
withdraw. Minister Ojeda does not
ant # ifina+A 4hi~i'' -'1 Il - +1---4'~'--