New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-23
VENEZUELA IN A CRISIS
RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND
MAY BE SEVERED.
STRAINED TO THE BREAKING POINT, IT
IS SAID IN LONDON-DISPUTE
OVER PATOS ISLAND.

London Sept 22-The Associated Press is IN
a position TO announce that diplomatic rea-
tions between Great Britain and Venezuela are
on the verge Of being severed Any day, almost
any hour, may bring the announcement that
the British Minister at Caracas has received his
passports. with corresponding action toward the
Venezuelan representative in London. The cause
OF the crisis does not seem TO be confined 70 any
particular incident, but consists in various dF-
ferences which eliminated in Venezuela assum-
ing such an angry attitude to leave Downing
Street fully impressed with The belief that the
Venezuelan Government intends 10 force mat
tiers to crucial issue. That diplomatic rupt-
ure would result in hostilities is a contingency
thus far scarcely to be contemplated
At present diplomatic relations are so strained
that, to quote a responsible British official 1T
would make really very little difference IL the
fact became public property by the absence Of
the diplomatic representatives from Caracas
and London"
The view of the Foreign Office is that affairs
have reached a stage where il is impossible to
deal satisfactorily with Venezuela in any mat
ter which may come up. In proof of this CON
tention the Foreign Office cites the report OF
the United States Minister at Caracas, Herbert
w Bowen. announcing that the Venezuelan
Government had protested against the British
flag being raised over Patos (or Goose Island,
over which the Venezuelan Government claimed
sovereignty. According TO the British Govern
ment's understanding. Patos Island belongs to
Great Britain just as much as Trinidad and. 50
far as known. question as to its ownership
has ever arisen Inhabitants Of the island have
recently been shot or otherwise endangered
through the action of Venezuelans whether gov
ernment or revolutionary partisans is not known.
For purposes Of protection the local West In
dian authorities ordered the British flag TO be
prominently displayed on the island, hence the
protest, which the Foreign Office says is only
one of many.
An exceptionally prominent official said to a
representative of The Associated Press tonight
Affairs in Venezuela are so hopeless1v mud
died that we can get nothing done There is no
concealing the fact that the Venezuelan Gov
ernfnent has made heated protests to our min
lister The chlef grievance appears to be the al
legation that the British Government is aiding
the revolutionary army. II is needless 10 saw
this is perfectly baSeless We only wieb tha
United States would take over the whole conn
try. and then, perhaps, would get some
peace.
present seems to be the worst. This combined
with the attitude Of the nominal government
makes somewhat Indifferent to anv action
which may take place. The Venezuelan ns apnear
inclined to be rather reckless. thanks chiefly to
what 1 presume is the mistaken notion thar
Washington will protect them from the resrIts
of their own folly, however inmical that rnipbt
be to the lives and property of British subjects
and those of other Europeans As we under
stand Monroeism, Venezuela is quite mistaken
in this matter, though. apparently. the impress
sion has much TO do with her present actions