The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-25
TROUBLE FOR VENEZUELA.
WAR NAY BE on WITH COLON
BIA; BRITAIN THREATENS.
Asks Our Permission 10 Use Force to Collect
Its Debts-Germnny Ready TO Take
the Same Course Colo n,bia Troops
Repulset, President Castro says.

| WASHINGTON. Nov. ?4.-With the ending
of the civil war in Venezuela the victorious
| President Castro has become involved in
| fresh troubles. News come, from our Min
| lister a Caracas that Columbian troop.
| have invaded Venezuela, and it has bee n
learned here that Great Britain and Ger
many have determined to bring Castro
to terms for noglecting TO liquidate certain
Obligations that have remained unful-
filed for several wears
Minister Bowers message TO the State
Department says that an official bulletin
has been issued that armed forces from
Colombia invaded Venezuela on Nov. 49,
and were defeated on Nov 49,
The information contained in the bulletin
may mean that war is on between Colombia
ana Venezuela. Each country has Just
concl, ded a long and exhaustive civil
war and il has been predict 81 that as soon
as the internal strifes were over an in
ternational conflict would he on
Colombia has accused Venezuela Of fur
nishing arms, ammunition and mon TO the
Colombian rebels. and il was openly charged
that Gen. Jribe-U rbe, the Colombian rebel
leader had organized his insurgent forces
in Venezuelan territory. Troops from
territory, nut II was never known here
that they were furnished by the Colombian
Government.
The feeling between the two countries
Is very bitter but IT was not supposed in
Washington that. after each government
had been crippled badly. financially and
otherwise, by its own internal conflicts,
and with Venezuela facing crisis in her
relations with England and Germany there
would be- a renewal so soon of the al f'culties
that have Threatened for a long time to
Involve the two Latin countries in hostiities
Following the example set by the German
Government several months ago, the Brit
lsh Government has inquired of the
United States whether there is ANYTHING
contained III the Monroe Doctrine that
will serve to make obnoxious to this co,n
try an attempt by Great Britain TO collect bv
force OF arms debts due 10 its subjects
by Venezuela
ierlnany's similar inquiry was made
directly TO President Roosevelt by Herr
Won hoileben. the German Ambassador,
early this year, AZ time when the revolt |
against Casiro's rule was beginning to |
assume formidable proportions Ob.i9a- |
ions que To herman railroad contractors p,
and other German subjects by the |
VENEZUELAN Government had been virtually |
III
authorities al Berlin determined to collect |
them by force If the United States did MOI |
lnterpoSe objection.
The outcome Of the inquiry was decla-
ration by tfs State Department that the
Monroe Doctrine was intended only TO
prevent the acquisition of territory in the
W esforn Hemisphere by any European
lat!on through colonization or conquest
and that Venezuela. being sovereign
State. could not rely on assistance from the
United States in attempting TO escape the
,ayment of obligations to her sovereign
states so long a. the latter did not attempt
o acquire Nenczu, Ian territory.
Germany gave assurances To this Gov |
'rnmcnt that she intended only to seize
venezuelan custom houses and hold them
until duties sufficient to indemnify her
,uhjects had been collected, and that she
iad no intention Of maintaining a per
nanent fcothold on Venezuelan territory |
Us there is nothing inconsistent with the
erms Of the Monroe Doctrine In this ex-
PRESSED purpose. the United States Govern
ncnt 10. II TO known that il would no, | ,
nterfore with the German operations
shortly after this virtual understanding |
ad been reached, the Venezuelan rebels
lade great advances and the German
Government determined not TO carry out
d"'t-cullec,ing policy until the internal
isturl ances Of the South American country
zero over ,
Great Britain, which also had scores o set
!" with Venezuela. did not then make anv ,
lquiries Of the United States. but waited
nil the conclusion Of hos'ilitics 10 do so
no has now come forward with reuues,
. lie Informed as to tho views Of this Gov ,
rnment In regard 20 the projected seizure
I Nenez lelan custom houses for temporary 1
gliding. and has received the same answer
: 10 the Interpretation Of the Monroe ,
'rctrin" a. was given 10 Germany.
II IL understood that both Great Britain ,
nd Germany will send s1uadrons tovenezus-
N waters 10 back up demands for payment
the obligations alleged 10 be due their
lhiscts. and IL Castro declines 70 comfy. =
, land armed forces. seize custom houses
nd collect revenues until the amounts
the claims have been satisfied