New-York tribune., 1902-12-30
VENEZUELA'S TROUBLES.
CASTRO REPLY 4W4ITED.
Nothing Said IN Berlin as to End
ing the Blockade.

Berlin Dec 29-Foreign Secretary Won Richt-
hofen IS awaiting the receipt of President cas-
tro's answer 20 the proposal to submit the VEN
ezuela dispute to the arbitration OF The hague
tribunal with certain reservations, before cor
responding with Great Britain over the person
mel Of the tribunal or the date for raising the
blockade
Assuming that President Castro declines 10
accent the reservations, will arbitration fall
through" asked the correspondent OF Inc AS
sociated Press of Foreign Office official to-day
The official replied:
.,rhe settlement will be reached by arbitration
in any event.
The German Government is completely silent
as to when the blockade will be ralseo' OF
whether it will be raised at all until every ques-
ton concerning arbitration is settled Inc ac-
ceptance of arbitration after the blockade was
begun is certainly not received with popular
favor in Germany.
General Won Boguslawski one of the foremost
military writers, contributed to the Iaghche
Rundschau" his views of the Monroe Doctrine
and argues that the withdrawal Of the blockade
at this stage would show singular weakness
After alluding to the late Prince Bismarck S
expression that the Monroe Doctrine was "a
great piece of impudence,' the general says:
That was a true word. America is divided int5
many States In varieties of race and language
she is hardly second to Europe How can one
State that il has the right Of interference
and protection over an entire continent, ana
that il Will tolerate only under certain condl-
tions any action, however just, OF european
nations against an American state! a 1urlneT
question is how il happens that this doctrine
set up eighty years ago by an American states
man, has been able to justify itself in fact with
absolutely no justifca ton in the law of nations?
When the United States feels herself threat
ened through any occupation OF territory, or
course il has the right like any other nation, to
q
But there must be no talk Of even an appar-
eut recognition Of the Monroe Doctrine as an
international law principle on the part of Euro
pean nations. If the latter act otherwise they
will soon feel the thumbscrews which they put
on thereby.
Through the against nl-equipped Spain
American If-importance has been Infinitely
increased, often showing diseased character
The courtesies shown America by Germany nave
naturally not diminished that self-esteem- How
little success excessive courtesy has is again
shown here Certainly the allies cannot be
blamed for sparing the United States sensi-
tveness to the greatest extreme ana IN seeking
an agreement Herewith regarding the action
against Venezuela the allies not only did so
but went to the length Of offering Presl-
dent Roosevelt the arbitratorship after begin
ming military action He refused, and, indeed.
for the reason that the justice Of the case OF
the allies was so self-evident that his decision
could only have been unfavorable to Venezuela
thereby damaging the United States popular
Itv with the other nations of that hemisphere
Now that warlike action has begun. no thumb
screws can be tolerated as TO how far the acton
taken will extend. Giving the United states
binding promises would divest the action be-
forehand Of lasting effect. If the United States
ra ises serious objection against this she would
have 70 determine what means are at her dis
posal TO give validity to her objections. PresI-
dent Castro's demand that the powers raise the
blockade and return the captured vessels must
meet with q decisive veto. Otherwise we shall
have a repetition Of the disgrace of Olmuetz
at
The "Frankfurter Zeitung' halls President
Roosevelts refusal as good news. and praises
the United States for having done so much 10
bring The Hague tribunal into vogue.
The "Lokal Anzeiger'' prints an inspired state
rnent TO the effect that nothing is known by the
Berlin officials regarding the reported intention
Of the powers to raise the blockade, adding that
the question has not yet been taken into con-
sideration.
The "Neueste Nachrichten'' says It hopes the
statement that Minister Bowen will represent
Venezuela's case is not true since the United
States action would thus appear in bad light
after refusing arbitration and keeping the big
gest hand in the game in irresponsible way.