The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17
MAY BE Needed.
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the secretary granted this request subject
to the approval of Venezuela. Italy enters
the combination on the same plane as 10
abstentiOn from territorial seizures as Ger
many and Great Britain. The Italian am
bassador explained TO Secretary Hay that
ii had been the hope of the Rome govern
ment at first TO reach a satisfactory settle
ment of her claims against Venezuela, such
France had secured. To this end
polite but firm note was addressed 10 the
Caracas Foreign Office after the ulti-
matums of Germany and Great Britain hstd
been sent. Pending reply TO this note
the Italian authorities did not resort 10
was found to be not only rejection OF all
Italy's demands. but its tone was wholly
displeasing. and ii was therefore necessary
for Italy TO follow suit with Germany and
Great Britain and join In the allied naval
demonstrations. There is one Italian vessel
now at La Guayra, and two more are UNI
derstood 10 have sailed to-day Tor Nene-
zuelan waters from Naples.
Failing TO hear from Europe as TO Mr.
BOwen's proposal TO arbitrate the Nene-
zuelan troubles Secretary Hay to-day ad-
dressed cablegrams to the United States
ambassadors at London, Berlin and Rome
instructing them TO call the matter again TO
the attention of the governments to which
they are accredited with view TO securing
an early expression of opinion from them.
1t is learned from an official source that in
view of the fact that the allied powers have
agreed TO assist each other in the pressing
of their claims against Venezuela there is
a feeling that the reply of Germany, Great
Britain and Italy should be unanimous.
Estimated at between 2,00000o and 100000
bolivars. Italys claims are considerably
in excess of those Of Great Britain. and the
course of the Rome government In not act
ing hastily in the matter has commended
itself to the State Department.
Before leaving this morning the Italian
ambassador gave Secretary Hay every
surance that his government wished to act
strictly in accordance with President
Roosevelt's Interpretation of the Monroe
doctrine.
DISCUSSED BY SENATORS.
The Venezuelan question occupied the
attention of the Senate in executive session
to-day for almost an hour. The question
came up informally almost Immediately
after the House was excluded. Senator
Teller, disclaiming all intention of being
critical and saying he merely desired in
formation, asked Senator Cullom, chairman
of the committee on foreign relations, what
information he possessed as to the Ven
ezuelan affair Mr.. Teller, in inquiring,
said that the situation is such that senator's
felt that the Monroe doctrine at any time
might become involved If the complication
should continue.
Senator Cullom replied to the inquiry
that he had no knowledge Of recent events
not contained in the public prints. Messrs.
Bacon, Hoar, Lodge and Stewart all made
remarks. In none of the addresses was
anything harsh or critical said. There was
a general agreement that, while the means
adopted by Great Britain and Germany for
the collection of their debts had been quite
strenuous, they thus far had committed
no infringement OF the Monroe doctrine.
and, therefore, had done nothing to which
the United States could take exception.
Tnls was the position of Senator Cullom,
as IL was of other senators who spoke.
MT Suliom said that much light as to the
attitude OF the administration could be OBJ
tanned by consulting the correspondence be-
tween the State Department and the Ger
man ambassador year ago. He then called
attention to the fact that on Dec. 10, 1901.
the representative of Emperor William had
brought the matter of VeneZuela's debts
and her apparent indifference to them to
the attention OF the secretary of state. The
German ambassador in his letter gave the
| department complete information from the
German standpoint of the position of his
government. He said that for seven years
Venezuela had failed to pay interest on a
debt to German citizens of about 500 900
contracted In the construction of a railroad
| ana tnat In addition there were other debts
amounting to about sl.7OO,0O0 due German
| citizens from Venezuela. which IL had
proved impossible to collect. He added that
| every known peaceable means had been
| tried to secure the money and that his
| government, feeling that patience had
| ceased to be virtue. had decided to use
| coercive means. 1t was desired, however.
| he said, that it should be explicitly under
stood that whatever steps might be taken
by his country there no desire to en-
1
doctrine. This explanation, he added he
thought was due the United States as the
only purpose of his government was to as
sist It's people In collecting debts due them.
Secretary Hay replied Dec. Is. 1901, saying
| In effect that the Monroe doctrine was not
4 intended to shield any American nation
| from the payment of its honest debts and
that Its purpose was to prevent the &C
| QUESTION Of territory by old world nations.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
To further elucidate the position of the
| United States on the Monroe doctrine he
| quoted from the first annual message of
| President Roosevelt, which had been in
| the hands of Congress for only few days,
| as follows:
| THE Monroe doctrine is a declaration
| that there must be no territorial aggran-
dizement by any non-American power at
| the expense of any American power on
| American soil. 1t is i'm nowise intended as
| hostile to any nation in the old world. Still
| less is 1t intended to give cover to any
| aggression by one new world power at the
expense of any other. 1t is simply step.
| and a long step, toward assuring the uni
versal peace of the world by securing the
/ possibility OF permanent peace on this hemi-
| sphere. During the past century other in
| fuences have established the permanence
/ and Independence of the smaller states of
| Europe. Through the Monroe doctrine we
hope to be able to safeguard like indie
| pendence and secure like permanence for
the lesser among the new world nations.
| lliS QOClTlHe mas nOtnlng TO 90 WITH
| the commercial relations of any American
power, save that it in truth allows each of
| them to form such as Ii desires. In other
words. 1T is really guaranty of the COM
| mercial independence of the Americas. We
| do not ask under this doctrine for any ex-
| elusive commercial dealings with any other
| American state. We do not guarantee any
| state against punishment If it msconducts
| itself. provided that punishment does not
! take the form OF the acquisition of terri
| tory by any non-American power"
When Senator Cullom had concluded Sem
| ator Lodge called attention to the dec
| laration attributed to Lord Landsdowne by
to-days dispatches that there is no dis
| Britain to acquire any Venezuelan territory.
BACON PATRIOTIC.
Senator Bacon, Of Georgia, a leading mi
nority member OF the committee on foreign
affairs. said that on a question of this kind
there was no party division and that every
body would stand with the administration
in doing what was best for the general
good. There was no desire on the part OF
anyone to embarrass those who were in
control Of affairs and upon whom devolved
the duty Of protecting American interests
| The maintenance OF the Monroe doctrine
| he added, devolved on the whole people.
| Senator Hoar said that thus far nothing
| had been done to cause apprehension and
| he expressed the opinion that for the pres
ent the government of the United States
could do nothing more than keep q watch
| full eye on the situation.
Senator Stewart dwelt some on the bonn