The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-17
Senators Discuss Venezuelan
 Question in All Is Phases
THERE IS NO PARTY DIVISION
Both Sides Will Stand By the Admin istration In Doing What Is Best In the Matter-Monroe Doc
 trlne Clearly Defined.

the senate in executive session today for almost an hour. The question came up in- formally almost immediately after the house was excluded. Senator Teller, dis claiming all intention of being critical, and saying he merely desired informa- tion, asked Senator Cullom, chairman of the committee on foreign relations the information he possessed as to the Ven- ezuelan affair." MT. Teller, in inquiring, said that the situation IS such that sen- ators felt that the Monroe doctrine at any time might become involved, if the com plication 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 Ger many 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 ex- eeptior.
 This was the positi,n of Senator Gull lom, as it was of ether senators who spoke. Mir. Cullom said that much light as to the attitude If the administration could be ot ttained by consulting the cor respcnGcnce fetween the state depart ment and the German ambassador year age. He then called attention to the fact that on December 10, 1901, the representa- tive of Emperor William had brought the matter of Nerezucla's debts and her apparent indifference to them to the at tentiDn uf the sncl stary Of state. The Ger man orabassador Tn his letter gave the department complete Information from the German standpoint of the position of his government.
 Failed to Pay Interest.
 He said that for several years Vene- zuela had failed to pay interest on a debt to German citizens of about s5, 700, GOO, con- tracted in the construction of a railroad, and that in addition there were other debts amounting to about GOO due German citizens from Venezuela, which it 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. It was desired, how ever, he said that 1t should be explicitly understood that whatever steps might be taken by his country, there was no de- sire to encroach on, or interfere with the Monroe doctrine This explanation, he added, he thought was due the United States, as the only purpose of his govern ment was to assist Its people to collect ing debts due them. Secretary Hay re- piled December 16 1901, saying in part that the Monroe doctrine was not intend- ed to shield any American nation from the payment of its honest debts and that it's purpose was to prevent the ac- quisition of territory by old world na- tions. To further elucidate the position of the U4dted States on the Monroe doc trine he quoted from the first annual message of President Roosevelt. which had been in the hands of congress for only a few days, as follows:
 The Monroe Doctrine.
 ''The Monroe doctrine is a declaration that there must be no territorial az grandzement by any non-American power at the expense of any American power on American soil. It is no wise intended as hostile to any nation in the old world. Still less is it intended to give cover to any aggression by one new world power at the expense of any other. It is simply a step and a long step to- ward assuring the universal peace of the world by securing the possibility of per- manent peace on this hemisphere.
 During the past century other coun tries have established the permanence and independence of the smaller states of Europe Through the Monroe doctrine we hope to be able to safeguard like inde- pendence and secure like permanence for world tions.
 'This doctrine has nothing to do with the commercial relations of any American power save that 1t in truth allows each of them to form such as it desires. In other words, it is really a guaranty of the commercial independence of the Americas. We do not ask under this doc Urine for any exclusive commercial deal- ings with any other American state. We do not guarantee any state against pun ishment if it misconducts itself, provided that punishment does not take the form of the acquisition of territory by any non- American power"
 When Senator Cullom had concluded Senator Lodge called attention to the declaration attributed to Lord Lans- downe by today's dispatches that there is no disposition or desire on the part of Great Britain to acquire any Venezue- Ian territory.
 No Party Division.
 Senator Bacon of Georgia, a leading minority member of the committee on foreign aairs said that on a question Of this kind, there was no party division, and that everybody would stand with the administration in doing what was best for the general good. There was no desire on the part of any one to embar- rass those who were in control of affairs, and upon whom developed the duty of protecting American interests.
 The maintenance of the Monroe doc- Urine, he added, developed 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 present the government of the United States could do nothing more than keep a watchful eye on the situation.
 Senator Stewart dwelt somewhat on the bombardment of the Venezuelan fort and said that that incident should be ac- cepted by our government as a warning of what this country might expect when ever excuse might offer. He gave as his reason for his admonition the fact that our recent acquisition of territory had aroused the jealousy of all the European powers, and that they might attack us at any time. Not in two generations he to that of Great Britain, but we can strengthen our coast Notifications, and in view of Venezuela's experience. it be-