Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-25
BACON FEARS
BIC TROUBLE
BREWING
eEOR6lA'S SENIOR SENATOR
TAKES VERY PESSlMISTIc
VIEW OF THE SITUATION
lust NOW IN VENEZUELA.

NV YORK. Dcc. Ex-senator Bacon.
OF Georgia, is psssimistic over the Nene-
xusian- situation. aid does not hesitate 10
saw that he looks for trouble over the
Monroe doctrine. says the Nassirctei'
correspondent Of the New York Herald.
Mr.. Bsecn thiuks ehe allies have go:.e 30
IA he thinks the aeedle<sly drastic
measures with Venezuela indicate thu Pur-
poses Of Germany and Great Britain
NJ. Bacon Insists the doctrine will
continue TO be enforced. and when IL
was suggested that perhaps this coun-
Try might fnd a convenient way out o.
embarrassing situations arising from the
nor-payment OF debts BY the Central and
s. uth American countries by paying sucn
debts. he said no debts viii be paid by
this countrv but that the Monroe doc
tri-e win b enforced IN another man
ner-
TT Is perfectly apparent to me-" said
the serato-. that we must either aoan-
don or modify the Monroe doctrine o.
6~ht for M. i am equally sure we shall
not abandon Il. Then there Is but one
conclusion. That is wsr sooner o. IA
Ter.
An Interior Purpose.
Germany and Great Britain in the
Venezuelan q lsfs have had an Interior
purpose IN view which is apparent upon
its face. For these two nations 20 de-
ms nstrate their naval strength before
venezuelc means a great deal more than
a simple declaration OF feeling against
Venezuela A single battleship against
weaK and helpless Venezreia would ac-
complIsa what a whole feet could 40
and therefore the congregation Of great
naval strengtii there means something
more. Everyone agrees. think. tnat
there Is something behind the scenes
Wfat there IS Is apparent without any
comment from me.
II bslieve" continued Nr- Bacon.
that the present difficulty viii be tided
over without our government becoming
invo.ved. Bot believe that IL Germany
and Great Britain were 10 continue their
harsh meaures trouble would grow out OF
the crisis IN n very short time. en- fear
ful as TO the future. Something may grow
cut OF e. The European nations evident
" do not intend to submit to the Monroe
dcctrsnet as NE oonstrue IT, am opposed
10 war. but have no doubt that this doc
trine viii lead TO war eventually.
Definition Of Doctrine.
I do not agree with those who makes
the general statement that the one vio-
iatfon OF the Monroe doctrine exists in
the acquisition 81 territory. In the mes
sages sent 70 congress by President Mon
roe ne expressly stated that any efforts
BY European governments 70 Cypress
country OF q ptO-ttc UPON ANAr HrNA1fAAGAN
would be regarded as an indication OF an
unfriendly disposition toward the Amer
lean government and the same seuti-
merit Is to be found Frequently In the d.
piomatfc correspondence Of this govern
ment with European powers -e.atiye TO
the Monroe doctrine.
Now. do not went 20 say THAI the
European governments involved i1tendf~
20 Cypress the Venezuelan government,
~frfsr aF
this time which would I'm any manner
prove an obstacle 10 the arbitration plan
which has been proposed. and which. IL
Is TO be hoped. viii be carried out sue
cessfulIy. In my opinion however. the
action OF Great Britain and Germany has
been dangerously near the mark. II Is
dific1lt TO understand why such harsh
and drastic measures were necessary in
dealing with the utterly helpless repub-
liz OF Venezuela. which could offer no re-
sistange In any event"
Status Of the United States.
when II was suggested that tie United
States might be forced into the payment
OF the Venezuelan debt. Senator Bacon
said.
4 do not believe that this government
will ever consent 20 the payment OF any
other nations debts No such price for
maintaining the Monroe doctrine will be
paid. The doctrine will be enforced In
another way.
II an satisfied that senator's generally.
regardless OF political opinions. have re-
strained themselves from expressions
upon the question because they recog-
ui=e that IL Is grave and that they have
not wished 10 add to the difficulties OF
the situation by any incorporate speech.
This silence. perhaps. has been misun-
derStood abroad Our silence has mot
been by any means in the nature Of ae-
.Quiescence. Everyone recognizes the
right of a government to collect its debts
from another government. but in this
case il appears TO me that Great Britain
and Germany have gone too far"