The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-04
BRITAIN AND GERMANY
MAY FORCE PAYMENT.
War Vessels of Both Nations Have
Repaired TO Venezuela.

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London, Dee. 3-Great Britain and
German according to official state
ments made here, have commenced
punitive measures against Venezuela
German war vessels, it is stated, are
already on the scene of the contem-
plated action, and Great Britain by
tomorrow should have a squadron
there capable of coping with any re-
sistance that Venezuela might offer.
Meanwhile the Associated Press cor
respondent is informed that no definite
answer has yet been received from
Washington by the financiers here who
wish TO bring about a pacific settle
ment. An important communication
one way or the other Is expected from
Washington tomorrow. If the United
States are willing to give their moral
support to the request that Venezuela
be allowed time to fulfill the suggested
bargain, the plans thereof will at once
be submitted to the British foreign Of
flee.
IL Washington refuses to suggest to
the European Powers that Venezuela
be allowed time, it is probable that the
financial house now interested will
drop the plan altogether. In the lat
ter alternative the Venezuelan delega-
ton here is likely to submit the sug-
gestion settlement to the British and
German governments, with an appl-
cation for time to admit of their en-
tering into negotiations with other
financial interests.
The Venezuelan delegates maintain
that their status has been seriously af-
fected by the adoption of the agrees
sive measures announced to-day, but
they declare that it would obviously be
bad policy, in spite of the critical posi-
ton of their country, to make any sug-
gestion to Europe until the attitude Of
the United States. both as a joint cred
itor and a largely interested political
Power, had been ascertained.
The Associated Press correspondent
is in a position to state that Venezuela
offers the payment of a unified loan
of over $4,000. 900, interest yearly, guar
anteed by the customs, with the estab-
lishment of a European bank at Cara
cas- to superintend the collection The
whole plan is on basis similar to that
on which Brazil satisfied its European
creditors. If such a method is now
followed, the Venezuelan delegation
maintains that all claims can event
ually be met, whereas it alleges that
the temporary seizure of the customs
would disturb the commerce of the
country so as to practically render 1t
impossible TO satisfy the European
bondholders. and would bring with Il
the danger OF another revolution.
All these details are still unknown to
the Powers. who have ordered their
warshiDs to Venezuela. In spite OF
the announcement Of the joint action
OF Great Britain and Germany. the
ministry exhibits no little perplexlty
over the Berlin dispatch, Dec. 1, an
nouncing that President Castro had
handed 10 the German minister at Ca
racas written acceptance OF part OF
Germany's claims. sufficiently compre-
hensiye % delay the presentation OF q
joint uitinatum by Germany and Great
Britain, II not rendering Il altogether
unnecessary, and alEO stating that II
was understood that Great Britain's
demands would be satisfied. Not the
slightest information u this kind has
reached London.