The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-23

While Venezuela has at last shown
mess has placed her in a very awkward
position and one from which she will
probably find difficulty in extricating
herself. Great britain seems To be con-
tent with any curse that will result in
the demands of her subjects being paid.
She expresses willingness to submit the
controversy to arbitration with proper
safeguards" h ~ is. If some response
bic person or power will guarantee the
payment by Venezuela of such award
as the arbitrator may make. There
seems to be IN idea, entertained by
every one interested in this matter ex-
cept the authorities and the people OF
the United States. that our government
should become such g%uarantor because
it is supposed to look after the interests
of these weak South American repub-
lies. They nay "a we'll disabuse their
minds Of such an dea at once. for u
government is going to do no such fool
ish thing. Were we to do this, We
would have the debt to pay and take
our chance Of reimbursement by Fen-
ezuela. The establishment of such a
precedent would be to make the federal
treasury the prey of every ~adventurer
from Europe who saw fit to exploit the
South and Central American states.
Venezuela, to secure q guarantor,
will have to look elsewhere than to the
United States government. There is
talk, It seems, of the guarantee being
given by some private individuals or
corporations of this country. We sup
cept that Of a syndicate Of American
millionaires, and such will probably be
proposed and may be accepted. If
such Is lone our government should dis
tinctly declare that it has no hand in
the affair and If such a syndicate is
formed it goes into the business on its
own responsibility, and must not rely
upon the governments aid in the future
In forcing Venezuela to comply with
the terms of h contract; otherwise this
syndicate will in a few years be calling
upon our government to do for them
just HI thc IuIOpSdh PO"CkS Il
now undertaking for certain ones of
their subjects.
These are the obstacles in the way Of
arbitration so far as England is con-
cerned. While they are grave enough.
those raised by Germany and her de-
mands In addition to that for a money
payment still more seriously complicare
matters. The Washington press dis
patches say that Germany accepts ar
bitration in principle, but finds a null
titude Of small adjustments to be made
before entering into the agreement.
Among the 'extras' for which she con-
tends are apologies from the Venezue-
IAN government for indignties offered
the representatives Of the German gov
eminent by the rabble of Caracas and
other cities Of the republic. The Vene-
zuelans, like all others of his blood, are
constitutionally opposed to apologies
of all kinds unless they ONE from the
other party. THIS is likely to be a Sc
rious stumbling block in the way Of a
fnal settlement, as are the other
many points requiring adjustment"
which this government thinks should be-
embodied in the terms Of arbitration.
AS to Italy and France, the other
European powers now directly inter-
ested in the settlement of this matter.
they accept q sort of me Too Plat"
position in the controversy. Whatever
will suit the two bigger nations will suit
them. All they want Is their money.
In the meantime the blockade is going
On with it's accompanying dangers OF
at any time adding other complications
to the already sufficiently muddled con-
dition Of affairs.
While all this Is going On Uncle Sam
sits quietly In the buck ground saying
nothing, doing nothing. but closely
watching the line of that Monroe doc
trine. ready to notify any n Of the
European powers that she is trespass-
ing and must get or the grass the
inmate she steps over that line.