The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-09
VENEZUELA MUST
THINK AT ONCE
The Time Limit Given Her in the
> Ultimatums Is Said to
Be Short.
Chancellor Won Buelow Outlines Ger
mans Grievance to the
Parliament.
The British and German Embassies
: Leave Caracas May
Be Seized.

Berlin, Dec 9.--While the limit Of time
given to Venezuela in which to make an
answer to the ultimatumS OF Germany and
Great Britain Is not disclosed, the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press is Off
claly informed that it is very brief The
German foreign office still hopes that
President Castro will recognize the gray
ity of the situation and yield at the last
moment.
Telegraphic communication with La
Guaira is slow. Events ahppening to-day
are not likely to be translated from the
cipher until tomorrow.
The morning papers here make abso-
1utely no comment on the Venezpelan SIT
uation, with the exception OF the For-
waerts. which says that, although Presl-
dent Castro has expressed his Willingness
to satisfy the German and British de-
mands. military action against HIM has
begun" and the Lokal Anzeger, which
SAYS that president Castros efforts to
drive a wedge between Germany and
Great Britain have failed.
" Germany's Grievances.
Chancellor Won Buelow presided to the
reichstag a memorandum regarding Vene-
zuela. yesterday, specifying Germany s
grievance against that country. 1t says
that the questions at issue relate to the
demands of German residents of Venezuela
and the claims of German contractors re-
speeding the Venezuelan government
nonfuflment Of it's covenanted obliga-
lions. 1t adds that German settlers lost in
the civil war prior to 1900, 100000 boil
vars through forced loans, seizures Of cat
tie, and pillaging of houses and estates,
and in the last civil war they lost an ad-
ditional 5000, 900 bolivars. The commits
sion Of Venezuelan officials appointed in
January, 1901, to decide the claims was
not satisfactory because all ella inns arising
previous to President Castros administra-
t.
precluded, and the claims would only be
paid with bonds Of the new revolutionary
loan which would be evidently almost
worthless. The German minister at Car
Rcas having failed to get these points al
tered Germany felt compelled to refuse al
together to recognize the commission.
Similar refusals were made by Great Brit
Bin, the United States. Italy. Spain and
the Netherlands, but as Venezuela insisted
Germany examined the claims and made
Venezuela responsible for those which
were apparently well founded. Venezuela
then promised a satisfactory solution
through congress, but the latter simply: re-
verified to the commissioa. Venezuela de-
clined further discussion and refused to
settle by diplomatic means. s.. -
mat, continues the memorandum is not
IN accordance With international law and
as the whole attitude of the Venezuelan
government indicates an endeavor to re
with international law, and as Germans
have been lately treated by Venezuelan
troops with especial violence, which, if
u" unpublished. might create the impression
that Germans will be left unprotected to
the mercy Of foreign tyranny, the imperial
charge d affaires at Caracas handed to
the government on Dec. an ultimatum
demanding the immediate payment of the
war claims to 1900, and 4 satisfactory
statement regarding the fixing and guar
anteeing the amount Of the claims arising
FROM the recent civil war. At the same
time the German claims in connection
with the building of the Slaughter house
at Caracas and the claims of the German
Great Venezuelan railway company for
guaranteed interest must be settled. The
ultimatum concludes that if a satisfactory
reply is not forthcoming Immediately
Germany, to its regret. will be compelled
to take measures to obtain satisfaction