The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-12
MATTERS MAY BE
COMPLICATED
France Has Interests at Stake in
Venezuela.
SITUATION VERY DELICATE
SYMPATHY IN PARIS Is WITH
THE VENEzUELANS
SITUATION VERY DELICATE

DARIS, Dec. ia lengthy official
dispatch has been received at the
foreign office here from Caracas,
saying that the boats of the German
warships in Selling the vessels sup
posed to belong to Venezuela, also cap
tured French merchant steamer, the
Ossun- These advices reached here so
late today that the officials were una
bic 70 say what steps would be taken
in the matter, but it is believed that
unless the Germans promptly rectify
the mistake and release the Ossun,
representations on the subject will be
made to Germany. This is also taken
to indicate the delicate state of the
situation and the possibilities of inter
national complications beyond those in
volved in Venezuela alone.
Owned by a Frenchman.
The Ossun was owned by a French
man, who used her in the coasting
trade of South America. About eight
months ago the Ossun was seized by
the friends of President Castro on the
ground that the step was o military
necessity. and the Venezuelan flag was
hoisted on board the steamer
France protested against the seiz-
ure and put in a claim for an fndem-
nifty. This is one of the claims which
is now to be submitted to arbitration.
Venezuela conceding that the Ossun
was a French vessel
1t is thought here that the seizure
OF the Ossun by the Germans was due
to the enforced service of that vessel
under the Venezuelan flag but the
French nationality of the Ossun is con-
sidered here to be unquestionable.
Difference of Opinion.
The advices from Caracas indicate
that some tension is arising between
the British and German naval COM
manders over the methods of enforcing
the demands.
The German authorities insist on de-
cisive action. and the adviees received
here show that they have landed a
small German force, besides Selling the
ships The British commander desires
TO proceed slower and more in accord
anee with the usual course Of dfpio-
macy As result of this friction, some
of the leading diplomatic representa-
tives at Caracas have reported that it
is not likely that the British will par
ucipate in the seizure of the customs
house. If this is borne out, the Off
Gals here consider that the joint char
acter of the operations will be consid-
erably interrupted.
Leading French officials openly ex-
press qualification that France has Sc
cured, through diplomacy, what other
powers were seeking to obtain through
force.
New Issue Raised.
It is learned from an authoritative
source that the French claims. which
will be submitted to the coming arbi-
tration, amount to $4,000, 900. This in
cludes S3,6O0O0O demanded for the prac-
teal destruction Of the French rail
roads running from the gulf of Mara
caioo to the mountains. The recent
protocol restricted arbitration to the
damages occurring prior to 1899. but
as the railroad was begun prior to 1899
ana was continued through the recent
revolution, France viii insist that the
claim be arbitrated under the protocol
The claims which it has not been de-
cided TO submit to arbitration aggre-
gate S44OO,OOO. but it is believed that
these also viii be included before the
is closed, and it is under
stood that the arbitration will result
IN Venezuela allowing France to collect
the duties at one or two ports until her
claims are paid, which may raise fur
Their issues il all the Venezuela ports
are occupied forcibly by other powers.
Public and newspaper opinion in
Paris tends to sympathize with Vene-
zuela as being the victim of undue Sc
verify on the part of the strong pow
ers. The Temps says:
IF the United States has nothing to
say on the Monroe doctrine in this az
fair. it may be time for Europe to speak
in the interest of universal peace"