Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-09
VENEZUELAN CRISIS.

The most serious foreign complication
for the United States since the war will
Spain, in 1898, is precipitated by
ultimatums just sent by Great Britain
and Germany to Venezrela. The
ultimatums fix q time limit within which
! Venezuela must satisfy the claims of the
two governments. If she fails to do so,
the custom houses will be seized.
Formidable fleets for this purpose arc
already on the scene and other warships
are fastening there. The claims OF
Great Britain and Germany against
| Venezuela amount to about $50, 600, 0Oo.
France, to which about 5000, 600 was
owed by the same power, recently OBJ
tanned settlement by a separate pro-
tocol. Admiral Dewey's great fleet Of
42 warships, now in Porto Riean waters
maneuvering, will be ready to act if
United States interests are threatened,
which is not expected.
A representative of the British foreign
Office states, with regard to the time
| limit: at is a reasonable time in
which Venezuela can satisfy the In
iured governments. Both notes are
practically identical, although the
amounts of the claims differ. The notes
merely reiterate the continued disre-
gard by the Venezuelan government of
all our representations, specify our
claims and demand immediate action on
the part of President Castro's govern
ment in connection with them. There
is not the slightest desire to coerce
Venezuela, and if any answer had been
made to our repeated protests and de-
mands no such action as now taken
would have been proceeded with. 1t
was the persistent and insulting disre
gard of all representations which COM
PEELED us to move. Now it is too late
for anything but purely diplomatic ar
=, ngements to be accepted in satisfaction
for our injuries. "
Should tie British uitimatum meet a
hostile receptioa the British Minister.
W. H. D. Haggard, bas been instructed
=. g.o aboard warship, or, If that IS
" - c,ica,S,e, to go into the nelgh69,F-
img r. ;tisb any of Trinidad. ne
Foreign Office does u0s appear ~ ."
ticipare such contingel ultima.
Premier Ba lfourannouncea .,nons
tum in the British House of CO... al
yesterday afternoon. When question.
on the situation by the liberal leader,
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, he said:
"CastrO, it is said, is defiant and SAYS
he puts 'honor first, and will not be
Inundated. For the last two years we
have had grave cause for complaint on
various occasions Of uniustifable inter-
ference by the Venezuelan government
with the liberty and property of British
subjects. No efforts have been spared
by the British government to obtain an
amicable settlement of these cases, but !
in none of them have satisfactory eX
plantations been forthcoming. Latterly |
the representations of the British Min
lister have been practically unnoticed.
There are also cases in which British |
subjects and companies have large
claims. We have been acting in con-
junction with the German government,
which also has large claims against
Venezuela. A final communication has
been made to the Venezuelan govern
ment by the British Minister and the
Germa II charge d'afaires If no salts
factory reply is received the governments
have decided to take such measures as
may benecessary to enforce their claims"