The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-12
AN iCTTiL STATE or VAR.
Action Of Selling and sinking venezuelan
(.unbOats Condemned.

WARRINGTON. Dec II No doubt re-
mains in the minds Of the memb'rs Of the
Government that an actual state Of war
prevails between England and Germany
on the one hand. and Venezuela on the other
The action of the allied European powers
In seizing and sinking Venezuelan war
ships is declared in official circles to have
been tantamount % a beginning Of hos-
tiities.
Considerable criticism Of the course II
the German and English naval commanders
for what il character 2, d in some quarters
as a wanton act Of destruction has been
heard in Washington to-day, both in the
Executive departments and in Congress,
and many public men are Of the opinion
that the two European Goyernm'n'- have
committed an act which will meet with
cond cmnat ION throughout this country
and abroad.
REPORTS FROM MINISTER BOWEN
The Information IN regard - the Ncne-
zu.lan situation which has com" ~ ID"
State Department within the past twenty
four hours from Herbert W bowen, tie
United States Minister at Caracas, Is sum
married. as follows. Intense excitement
prevails in caracas. President castro
has entered upon policy Of repgi>al and
has called on theNeno2Irlan people To resist
foreign invasion. Through the efforts Of
Mr.. Bowen, the German tOn-ul-Gouc-al.
who was arrested by order of President
Castro, has been released, and IN this con-
necton Mr.. Bowen says also: Tho Pre-i-
dent informs me that he has released AL
Germans and British who were arrested
The German and British .QuadrUns have
entered La GuayIa hartor, AID a 'l.a,"fl.l'
blockade has been declared,
LANDING OF MARINES.
The latest advices from Mr. Bowen do
not show that any conflict has taken Ilar,
between the armed force sol Venezuela and
those of the all"-,
In one drsI atch he says that $50 marines
were landed at la Guayra and these rescued
British and German subjects who were
believed to be in danger, and returned
with them to the European ships.
SINKING OF THE GUSBoATs.
All doubt az to the truth Of the report
that after capturing the Venezuela gum
boats in La Guayra harbor, the allied forces
took them out to sea and sunk them, wa.
removed this afternoon by the rec.iJt of
the news that confirmation Of this Incident
had been officially given III the British
House Of Commons.
This action of the two European nations
was discussed with the greatest inrcrrst
in Government circles, and II i evident that
it has created what is known among nat ions
as y. painful impression"
The PLANS, Az MADE YEAR AGO
just one year ago to-day the German
Ambassador to Washington left with Sec
rotary Hay memorandum, ~cttiI.g forth
the differences between his Government
and Venezuela and explaining what Ger
many proposed To do,
In that memorandum the following was
contained:
We declare especially that under no cir
cum-tancc. do We consider in our Proceedings
the acquisition or III" permanent OCCuUati ion
OF Venezuelan territory II tn" Ncn.Yurlan
Government should force u to b" APPLICATION
oi mHl>ur"S Of coercion W. should htv" to
consider. furthermor" # AT hi, occasion We
should ask likewise for a greater security for
tie fu hlment OF the claims OF tn" Company
OF Discount Of Berlin
After the posting Of an ultimaNm first of
all, the blockad" OF the more iMrortint \our-
zuclan harbors that i. principally thc harhur
to b" considered IA an appropriate mca~,ir.
OF coercion, as the lowing OF duties for inn
port and export being nearly tho orlv -oiIrc.
OF income or Venezuela, would in this way bc
made impossible"
Likewise it would bc diNlcut in this way to
import OF corn. with food If this mcusIr.
docs not seem efficient We would hnVp 10
nstder the temporary occupation on our
mart of different Venezuelan hafhor places and
the levying OF duties in those places
II Sill lie noticed that Germany in the
memorandum above quoted, indicated that
her course in Venezuela would not extend
to actual warfare, or to Ot her COertive meas
ures than a blockade Of the principal N,uc-
zuelan harbors, evidently to prevent IN,
importation of foodstuf and starNc prrsi-
dent Castro INTO submission or, in the
event that this policy Nae not effective, to