Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-17
VENEZUELAN TROUBL T
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED
f. a. Herndon. Lynchburg; James W
Gloow, Lynchburg.
UNITED STATES SENATE
ON VENEZUELAN AFFAIR,
No Infringement Yet on the Monroe
Doctrine-Wc Should Strengthen
Our Coast Dcfcnccs,
oil

WASHINGTON. D. c.. December TO-
The Venezuelan question occupied the at
tenton of the Senate in executive session
to-day. for almost an hour. The ques-
ton came up informally, almost jmme-
d;ately after the public was excluded.
Senator Teller, disclaiming all intention
of being critical. and saying he merely
desired information asked Senator Gull
lom. chairman of the Committee on For
eign Relations, what information he ;:c:-
sesSed as to the Venezuelan affair Mr.
Teller. in inqlliring. said that the situa-
ton is such that Senators felt the Mon
roe doctrine at any time might become
involved. if the complication should con-
tinue Senator Cullom replied to the in
quiry that he had no knowledge of re-
cent events not contained in the public
prints.
Messrs. Bacon, Hoar. Lodge. and Stew
wart at all remarks. III none of the
addresses was anything harsh or critical
said. The tone of all the speeches. whe-
Their by Republicans or Democrats. was
that our position as a, nation should be
one of watchfulness. There was general
agreement that while the means adopted
by Great Britain and Germany 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 exception.
This was the position Of Senator Cullon,
as it was of other Senators who spoke
GERMANY'S LONG SUFFERING.
Mr.. Cullom said that much light is to
the attitude of the administration could
be Obtained by consulting the correspon-
dencc conducted between the State De-
partment and the German ambassador ii
year ago. He then called attention to
the fact that on December 10. 1901, the
representative of Emperor William had
brought the matter of Venezuelas debts
and her apparent Indifference to them to
the attention OF the Secretary of State.
The German ambassador said that for
seven years Venezuela had failed to pay
Interest on debt TO German citizens of
about s5,OG0.0l0, contracted lin the con-
struction of a, railroad and that in addi-
ton. there was other debts amounting to
about $,I1O,oO0. due to German citizens
from Venezuela which it had proved i'm
possible 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 measures. It
should be explicitly understood that In
whatever steps might be taken sby his
country there was no desire to encroach
on or interfere With the Monroe doc
trine.
Secretary Hay replied. December is,
1901, saying in effect that the Monroe
doctrine was not intended to shield any
American nation from the payment of its
honest debts, and that its purpose was
to prevent the acquisition OF territory by
Old World nations.
GOVERNMENT UPHELD BY ALL.
Senator Bacon. of Georgia, leading
minority member Of the Committee on
Foreign Relations said that on Ques-
ton Of this kind there was no party
division. that everybody would stand
with the administration in doing what
no desire on the part of any one to enl-
barrass those who were in control of al
fairs. and upon whom deVolved the duty
of protecting American interests The
maintenance OF the Monroe doctrine. he
added was devolvcd on the whole peo-
pie.
Senator Stewart dwclt somewhat on the
bombardment of the Venezuelan fort. and
said that incident should be accepted by
our government as a warning of what
this country might expect whenever eN.
cuse might offer. He gave as his reason
for his admonition the fact that our re-
cent acquisition of territory had aroused
the jealousy OF all the European Powers,
and that they might attack us at any
time.
OUR NAVY INFERIOR.
Not in two generations. he said,
could we build up a navy equal to that
of Great Britain, but we can strengthen
our coast Notifications, and in view OF
Venezuelas experience 1t behooves US
to do So.
AS there was no formal question be-
fore the Senate. the matter was dropped.