The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-23
Seriously Affect United States
Shipping and Trade.
STOP PLACING ORDERS
Fifteen Importing Houses in
Caracas Cease Business.
The Capital Has Enough Food
for Only Two Weeks.

~ line steamer caracas, captain w OOQ-
rick, from New York, December 13, via
San Juan. Porto Rico and Willemstad,
Curacao, is expected this morning at La
Guayra from the latter port and viii be
allowed free entrance by the blockading
vessels. This decision. however. as brief
ly cabled last night was not arrived at
without some difficulty due, it is claim
ed here, to the lack of unity of action
on the part of the allies. The COM
mander of the British cruiser Tribune
yesterday notified Mr.. Schuck. the con
sui of Great Britain, that the Caracas
could enter the port of La Guayra to-
day. The Tribune then sailed from La
Guayra, leaving the Italian cruiser
Giovanni Bausan in charge of the
blockade The first act of the COM
mander of the Bausan was to notify the
agents of the Red D line that the Cara
cas- would not be allowed to land her
passengers. mails or freight. The com
mander of the United States gunboat
Marietta Lieutenant Diehl, the COM
mander of the French cruiser Troude
and the United States consul were i'm
mediately informed of the stand taken
by the Italian commander. whose deci-,
sion was regarded as violating the
terms of the DEGREES establishing the
blockade which allowed all steamers
of grace from the date of the establish
ment of the blockade, December 20. in
which to reach Venezuelan ports. Mr.
Boulton of Boulton & Co, agents of the
line and all foreign merchants entered
protests against the Italian command
er's decision and the commander of th~
Marietta and the United States consul
cabled to Washington for instructions.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Commander
Diehl, after an hours conference with
the Italian commander, succeeded in
convincing him he was wrong in his in.
depreciation of the blockade DEGREES ana
finally the captain of the Bausun as
sured Lieutenant Commander Diehl
that the Caracas would be allowed to
enter the port of La Guayra without
hfndrance. Mr.. BOultDn then was nOti-
fed that the Caracas would have free
- entry and ne cabled Winernsrad, where
she was awaiting orders. lnstructing
Captain Woodrick to proceed to La
Guayra-
The German warship which passed In
Guayra Sunday towing two large
schooners was the Panther. She cap
tured the vessels near Maracaibo
The German cruiser Gazelle arrived a
La Guayra yesterday morning and
sailed again at noon The Bausan and
the Tribune captured the following
prizes yesterday: The schooner Castor,
loaded with salt from Araya: the
schooner Maria Luisa, with cargo of
cocoa, from CarOnero; the slOOp Josefta
Carmin de Negeta, loaded with general
A-O
nelia. from Guanta
The blockade is proving prejudicial to
American trade, fifteen importing houses
in Caracas having stopped placing Or
ders in the United States. BOulton q
Co. are the only importers of American
flour who have declined to increase the
price of this article. The people benefit
by this firms action. It is estimated
that the food supply in Caracas viii not
last much more than fortnight
The Venezuelan gunbOat Miranda. the
best vessel In the fleet, is stiH successful
IN escaping German pursuit. She is now
IN the most southern part of Lake Mara
calbo, near La Cerba, and beyond the
reach of the allies. The German
cruiser Fake made an attempt to cross
the bar at Maracaibo without a pilot.
but desisted in view of the danger She
Is now cruising outside of the bar
FRANCE TO HAVE EQUAL
CHANCE.
Paris, Dec. 23.-The foreign office has
received President Castro's acceptance
of the conditions of the French note.
Ihe president says France will receive
equal treatment with other bowers il
lne settlement and payment of claims
The purpose of the French negotiation
was, as previously pointed out to safe
guard French claims against being sub
orcinated to those Of the powers which
are adopting forcible means for their
collection 1t is expected here that the
United states and other powers wIlic,,
are not resorting to force will receive a
SlInllar assurance to that given to
France. The local view here favor,
first arbitration. second. the annoint
ment OF an international commission to
execute the decision of the arbitrator
similar to the commissions appointed in
the cases of Egypt and Greece In ga 60
the commission is appointed. if is nroh-
able that the French claims which il has
heen decided to submit to arbitration
VII pc included in those to be considered
py Ine commission.
PRESIDENTS ADVISERS SAY
DON'T.
w washington, Dec 23-The formal nro-
posals OF Great Britain and GERMANY
that President Roosevelt arbitrate 4ba
Venezuelan dispute did not arrive here
over night, nor were they at hand when
the cabinet met, but it is expected that
Ihey viii reach Washington within a
strong pressure is being brought 10
pear upon the president to decline the
invitations to acS as arbitrator. This
pressure comes from the newspapers.
from public men and from senators a,,5
representatives in Washington Senafo~
CullOm called at the state deosrtr7ert
today with a bundle of tsle~ra471- ali
energeuc protests against the embarka-
tion OF the president upon this arbitra-
tion scheme.
The following cablegram was received
at the navy department from Comnoan-
der Diehl of the Marietta. dated La
c9edDiisneS blockade of
Torto Cabeuo on December 22 Mara
ciabo, December "a Steamers from the
United States and West indies 10 davr
grace. sails twenty days steam
ers from the other ports 90 davs.
sails 40 DAYS Vessels not Venezuelan
In blockaded norts Is days grace
Ambassador Tower reported Yesterday
from Berlin that the blockade of Porto
Cabello and 9raraciabo would be effee-
tive December 20
ITALIAN MINISTER GOES HOMIE
Rome. Dec. 2s.-Cignor de Riva, ItaI-