The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-18
VENEZUELA
 WILL YIELD Prominent Citizens Urge
 This Course. CASTRO READY TO QUIT United States Minister Bowen One of the Arbitrat0rS. America Demands of Germany What Kind of Blockade She Expects to Enforce-Balfour Has De-
 ference for Washington.
CASTRO READY TO QUIT

Caracas. Dec l7.-It has been decided that the Venezuelan difficulty shall be arbitrated and the discussion of terms of settlement is now going on. United States Minister Bowen undoubtedly will be one of the arbitrators.
 The government fears that coersive measures will follow the establishment of the blockade.
 The leading merchants and agricuitur- alists of Caracas addressed joint note to President Castro at o'clock this af- ternoon asking him to give full powers to United States Minister Bowen to ef- feet a termination of the present difil- culty. The note reflects thoroughly the consensus of current opinion among the business element of this city.
 The men who signed the note met again tonight to discuss ways and means of obtaining money with which Venezuela can meet her obligation. as well as the guarantees which it will be possible to of- fer to her creditors. The note is as fol- lows:
 Caracas, December II. 1902. ITO the President of the United States of Venezuela:
 "Sir-The undersigned. having met with the purpose of offering their aid to the government of Venezuela in the present conflicting situation which has been cre- ated by the aggr essive attitude of Ger many and Great Britain and upon your request to give our opinions In writing. we address you in the following terms. 'In view of the acts of violence already committed and of the absolute importance of Venezuela to meet force with force in response to the allied action of Germany and Great Britain In view of the fact that yenesuela has exhaustsd all the means required by civilixa9 ss1 and diplo- macy to put an end to the present situa- ton, and the government and the people of venezuela having compiled honorably and worthily to the demands of national honor. we consider, with ali due respect. that the moment to yield to force has ar- rived.
 We therefore, respectfully recommend that full powers be given to the Minister of the United States of North America authorizing him to carry out proper measures to terminate the present con nict in the manner least prejudicial to the interests of Venezuela.
 I've subscribe ourselves. your opeo'eh" servants.
 "J. E. Linare5.
 - HI L. Boulton.
 ''Carlos Santana.
 'Nicomedes Zuloaga,
 fHAsa F. De sales.
 Perez Montabin.
 M. Chappelin,
 Juan Herrera,
 Juan A. A. Travless.
 'Ydje Paul."
 hA Tn addition to the names given, the note is signed by about 200 other proHl- nent citizens of Caracas.
 The awakening of the Venezuelan peo- ,,ya to thA nreseut seeuntion of their coun- trv ia accompanied by feelings of bitter ness and sorrow. Their fleet has been destroyed and their pride has been oeep- Iv wounded. but they are resigned 10 ae- cent the affront which they consider has been offered them by the allies.
 During the last ten days Presloen' r,astro has acted with extraordinary en- erRy. He has transformed the entre eouh- trv into a vast camp, having raiseo moIe than 70 900 men whom he mas wei Ar"eu' equipped and transported rom every u rection to La Gualra ana fue[,o Ca i',1 In inc expectation that the allies woulo ..sn,nt to land at one or both of these points. S..,,~ Rut there has been a change Of feelins and inc prominent men of Venezuela who were at one time ready to lead the people in defense of their country now consider that justification to take men Of the re nublic away from their families ana thelr work does not exist. They have resolved to discover a means to bring about arDi- tratIon at least with one of the allies. The means sought is thought to lie through the United States Legation and satisfactory results are on every hand ex- pected to follow. A member of the Ministry said to the correspondent of the Associated Press: .sThe United States has not prevented the allies from assailing us but 1t has obliged them to accept our terms