The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-12-24
The TEST OF MONROE DOCTRINE:
Senators Think the Condition seri
ous---Tfe yenzaeIan Crisis Dis
cussed in Non Rartisan Spirit
in Executive Session
of the Senate.

/ Washington, Dec. 16.-The Venezue-
| Ian question occupied the attention OF
the senate in executive session today
/ for almost an hour. The question
came up Informally almost Immediately
after the public was excluded. Sena-
tor Teller disclaiming all intention Of
being critical, and saying he merely
desired information asked Senator
Cullom, chairman Of the committee on
foreign relations, what information
he possessed as to the Venezuela
affair. Mr., Teller in inquiring said
that the situation is such that senators
felt the Monroe doctrine at any time
might become involved ii the compilca-
ton should continue.
Senator CuIlom replied to the in
curry that he had no knowledge of re-
cent events not contained in the public
prints. Messrs. Bacon, Hoar, Lodge
and Stewart all made remarks. In
none Of the addresses was anything
harsh or critical said. The tone of all
the speeches, whether by Republicans
or Democrats, was that our position
as a nation should be one Of watch
fulness. 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 in
fringement Of the Monroe doctrine
and therefore had done nothing to
which the United States could take ex.
ception. This was the position Of
Senator Cullom as it was of other
senators who spoke. Mr.. Cullom SAID
that much light as to the attitude OF
the administration could be obtained
by consulting the correspondence con-
Quoted between the state department.
and the German ambassador year
ago. He then called attention to the
fact that on Dec. 10, 1901, the repre-
sentative OF Emperor William had
brought the matter of Venezuela's 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 fail
ed to pay interest on debt to Ger
man citizens of about s., 600, 600 con-
tracted in the construction of rail
road and that in addition there were
other debts amounting to about
81, ,7o0, 0OS due German citizens from
Venezuela which IT had provedlimpos-
sible 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 a virtue, had decided
so-use coeFciFe means. It was desired,
however, he said, that. it should be
explicitly understood that in which
ever stepsnight be taken by his coun-
try there was no desire to encroacll on
or interfere with the Monroe doctrine.
DEBTORS MUST PAY.
Secretary Hay replied Dec. 16, 1901,
saying in effect that the Monroe
doctrine was not intended to shield any
/ American nation from the payment of
It's honest debts and that its purpose
vas to prevent the acquisition Of ter
ritory by old world nations.
Senator Bacon of Georgia, a 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
was best for the general good. There
was no desire on tie part of any one
to enbarrass those who we're in con-.
troll of affairs, and upon whom de-
volved the duty of protecting Ameri-
can interests.
The maintenance of the Monroe
doctine, ne added, was devolved on
the whole people.
A WARNING.
Senator Stewart dwelt somewhat on
the bombardment of the Venezeulan
| fort and said that incident should be
accepted by our government as a
warning of what this country might
expect whenever excuses might offer.
He gave asvhis reason for his admoni
tion the fact that our recent acquisi
ton of territory had aroused the jea&-
ousy of all she European powers and
that they might attack US at any time.
"Not in two generations, !" he said,
could we build up a navy equal to that
OF Great Britain. but we can strength
en- our coast Notifications, and in view
of Venezuela's experience it behooyes
US to do So"