New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-13
GERMANY CRITICISED
English Think a Peccefui Blockade
UW Be Useless.
esDeelaI to Th. go rrlsaae .. FEeuen ca0lsl

Especial to The Neu-York Tribune b, French CzolsJ
Copyright: 1877 by The Tribune Association
London Dec Is. l a. m.-The Venezuelan
question still holds the field. many columns be-
ing devoted 10 it in the morning journals. and
the smoking rooms of the clubs rssounding With
desultory talk about it Evidences of dislike OF
Germany apparent. both in print and con
versation. for the destruction of three vessels
by Commodore Scheder's orders is sharply con-
demned : unnecessary and imr1lite. and the
hope is expressed that Admiral Douglas will rot
be drawn by his colleague into entdngemehts
of serious nature, but Will be content with the
maintenance of a pacific blockade
Tne utility OF that method OF COeTCins feeble
States is questioned BY some of the aelest
writers for the press and the futile results OF
the blockad.. of Crete in 1891 are cited an
Illustration that nothing is gained by this hollow
expedient for the avoidance of the appearance
Of warfare Many journals contend that war
has already begun since the seizure and deStru"-
ton OF ships were hostile acts and that hletS-
ade cannot he regarded as pacific eoHtFivzncs-
II is also argued h other writer's that block
ade of this hnd Only apply % Fenezfleihn
shps and that American and French vessels,
with the rights of neutrals. cannot he stopped
but must be permitted TO land Accoroihe t'
The presidents of t.ae bIockadas of Formqsa and
Greece, few years ago the blockade will he .
useless menace II neutral onipS arr %tioN -
enter the port and the collection of the customs
on shore will he inpracticable without large
military force prepared to disperse Venezuelan
soldiers and without. moreover. assurance from
Caracas that a second Gordon will not be estap-
1ished Many writer's forced by the process
of exclusion to forecast a joint military march
10 Caracas and while the Venezuelans are not
Beers. the prospect is not agreeable one
The most encouraging feature of the Venez-
ueIan affair is the fact that the action OF the
two powers is not sudden but has been in
contemplation for fully twelve months. and
that the State Department at Washington has
beer consulted at every turn. and the precise
form of the operations has been discussed
and prearranged- The three governments have
d complete understanding and all risks OF Vl0-
lation Of the principles of the Monroe Doctrlne
have been avoided The moral force OF TINS
compact would be great if there were a re-
sponsfbfe government at Caracas in place OF a
group of gamblers playing for high stakes As
it is the strength of the coalition and the good
understanding among the powers are sources
of weakness Money is demanded, and the
yenezueIa1s know that according 10 the pri1-
cipIes OF the Monroe Doctrine, territory cannot
be taken in exchange, and consequently tnat
coercion cannot be effectively enforced
There were many expressions of relief last
night over the announcement that President
Castro had asked the American Government 10
submit the questions at issue TO arbitration
Englishmen are in no mood Tor new CAM
paign in a mountainous country, and American
intervention is considered the shortest way out
of troublesome situation Secretary Hay re-
ceives many compliments ali sides for his
discretion in differentiating between the old
and new Venezuela questions. and in securing
position where he can suggest aro1tratiou as
:. rational and necessary policy after warning
the southern countries by his inaction that the
Monroe Doctrine is not a system Of interna-
tionaI bankruptcy by which debtors and de-
fauIters are relieved from all obligation to pay
their debts
Shrewd lawyers predict that the outcome ot
the naval demonstration viii be the establish
ment Of an arbitration commission 10 which
all claims American and French as we'll "a
English and German, viii be submitted for q
critical examination. The superiority OF n
commission of this kind to fleet under two
flags as a collecting agency for miseeilsne"ua
debts good. bad and Indifferent is admitted
by City men we'll veTsed in the methods OF south
American finance, in which face values are de-
ceptiye and extortionate rates of interest and
loans forced on taxpayers are common exped-
ents Some OF them will frankly admit that.
while the general effect of the Venezuelan af-
fair will br 5aIut5try warning that foreign
creditors must not be cheated. and that honesty
is the best policy for tropical America. the col
lection OF debts by naval demonstrations pr
bouDardments is privilege open 20 grave
abuse especially il the loans are forced bS'
speculative adyenturers on unwilling nations.
and IA good share of the money never has
reached the capitals where the loans were au-
thorized- - :