New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-14

copies of the demands presented by the German
and British ministers Monday, December s,
before embarking at La Guayra:
THE BRITISH ULTIMATUM.
To the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Replying TO your exceIlency's note Of the 4th
inst, l have the honor TO inform you that
have received instructions from his majesty s
government to point out TO the Venezuelan
Government in writing that, regarding the
steamer Ban Righ, the British Government has
given full explanations and has shown that
there exists no legitimate ground for complaint
Nor does his majestys government thlnk that
there is any reason 10 attribute blame to the
authorities Of Trinidad, who only acted con-
formally with instructions
/ have the honor further to express that his
najesty's government regrets the situation which
has arisen, but cannot accept your note as suffi-
Gent reply to my communication, as indica-
tive Of the intention Of the Venezuelan Govern
ment TO satisfy the claims which his majesty s
government has brought forward, and il must
be understood that they include ali well founded
claims which have arisen in consequence OF the
last civil war and the previous ones and the III
treatment and imprisonment Of British subjects
and also include an arrangement for the foreign
debt 1 have asked the Venezuelan Government
to make a declaration that il recognizes in prln-
cipIe the business of these claims, that it Will
Immediately make compensation IN the naVl-
CATION cases and the cases above mentioned, and
in those in which British subjects have been I'M
justly imprisoned or i'll treated, and that re-
speeding other claims they will accept the de-
cision OF a mixed commission as to the amount
and guarantee which should be given for pay
ment. / have also expressed the hope that the
Venezuelan Government VIII Qe1er 10 thSSe Oe-
mands. and not obllge his najesty's govern
rnent TO take s.eps TO obtain satisfaction.
j have added that his usajesty's government
has been informed of the claims Of the German
Government against Venezuela, and that the
two governments have agreed 10 operate Jointly
for the purpose of obtaining an arrangement of
all their claims. and that his majesty's govern
Inent will require the immediate payment OF a
sum equal 70 that which in the first case should
be paid to the German Government Any bal
ance after the payment Of urgent claims shall
be held on account for the liquidation OF claims
which might go before the commission.
I have, moreover, instructions from ms
majesty's government to state clearly that this
communication must be taken ultimatum.
HAGGARD, British Minister
THE GERMAN ULTIMATUM.
Caracas December Z.
To His ExceIlency Senor Lopez Baralt, Minister
of Foreign Affairs:
Mr.. Minister: In the name Of the government
of his majesty the German Emperor / have the
honor 10 make the following communication TO
the government of Venezuela:
The imperial government has been GUY m
formed of the note of the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs Of Venezuela, dated May last In
that note the Venezuelan Government refused
the demands of the imperial government feia-
tive 10 the payment of German claims arising
out of the civil Of 1898 to 19OU and, TO sup
uort its refusal referred TO arguments already
Put forward. The imperial government, even
after examining those arguments anew, does not
think il can consider them satisfactory The
government of the republic argues, in the frst
place that owing TO the interior legislation or
the country il is not possible 10 arrange the
the diplomatic course, thus asserting the ooc-
trine that diplomatic intervention Is excluded by
interior legislation. That doctrine is not in con-
formity with nterna tlonal law. since the queS-
ton OF Judging whether such intervention is ad-
Missile must be appreciated, not according to
the disposition of the interior legislation, but in
accordance with the principles of international
law The Venezuelan Government, with the OBJ
ject OF making demonstration Of diplomatic
defence claims that this is inadmissible, and
relies on the twentieth article of the treaty OF
arnity commerce and navigation between the
imperial government and the republic Of Colon
bia Of July 23, 1892 This argument is want
ing IN efficiency, first, because the treaty Is
valid only between the German Empire and
Colombia, and because Section ) Of said article
puts no obstacle in the way Of diplomatic de-
fence against German claims arising out Of acts
committed by the Colomb ian Government or It's
organs Likewise the affirnlations of the Ven
ezuelan Government are not correct that foreign
claims consequent on Venezuelan clVlI wars
have never been arranged by diplomatic course
for besides like arran gements which Venezuela
concluded with France in 1885 and with Spain
in 1898 q formal agreement was signed on Feb
rpary g. 1896 between the German Minister al
Caracas and the Venezuelan Minister, at the or
der of their respective governments, Tor the ar
Management Of the German claims consequent or
the civil war of 1892. Nor can Importance be
given TO the other objection Of the Venezuelan
Government, that diplomatic defence or tht
present claims is inadmissible because an ade-
ollate road to a settlement is open by the decree
Of January "a 1901 since the proceedings pro
vided for by the decree DO not constitute q
guarantee for just solution of those claims.
AS has been repeatedly said TO the Nenez-
May % 1899 (which is the date of the rising
headed by the present President of the repub-
lc) are excluded. while Venezuela will naturally
have TO answer for the acts in forming govern
ments. Secondly, all diplomatic intervention
against revolution by commission We must eX
clude. appeal to the Federal High Court being
alone permitted In spite of this, however, al
has been SEEN there were some cases where 5u
djcial employees depended on the Venezuelan
Government and when occasion has arisen they
have been deprived of their offices without for
mality.
Finally, the payment Of any claims which
commission might allow to be effected witt
certificates Of a debt of the revolution, Il
be created for that purpose. which. from VIVA
has been seen hitherto. would scarcely has
Venezuelan Government has not led to a salts
factory solution of the claims. In particular
the few German claims which would be pre-
scented TO the commission have been. in part
unseanly refused. in part reduced evidently Il
an arbitrary manner. and even the Recognize
claims have not been paid. but the injure
parties have been asked TO submit 10 proje,
of law TO be submitted to Congress After tn
failure Of several attempts TO induce the gov
eminent OF the republic to modify the decree !.
said points. the imperial government has bee
Obliged itself 10 examine its subjects claims an
Immediately present the Venezuelan Govern
those which found justified II
true that afterward the Venezuelan Govern
ment raised the possibility Of obtaining favor
able solution by Congress. but the law whic
sanctioned by Congress at The beginning {
the year only repeats the insufficient provision
OF the decree of January "a. 1901 Besides.
only comprises claims which could not be dul
presented TO a commission.