Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-12-20

sclIigerency-U. S. Will Not Resist
Blockade Of Merchantmen-5aI 5aIfour
Says State of War Exists-Notes.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-Thc state de-
partmcnt has received no response thus
tar to the messages sent to the European
foreign office relative to the Venezuelan
| arbitration proposition. II is not known
here whether President Castro will con-
sent to apologize rs a condition pre-
ccdcnt to arbitration, but ii is hoped
that Minister Bowen can induce him to
do so. if tins viii be sufficient to meet
the demands of the allies.
1t is pointed out here, however that
the further prosecution of attacks Ol,
Venezuelan forts will make an adjust
mcnt just that luucI more difficult. Ii
apologies are rendered and accepted,
then the critical phase of the situation
will, be removed, aud some time may bn
spent in an arrangement of the bases
upon which the arbitration Should I've
conducted. This will be Il difficult
problem. for it is anticipated that tlle
allies will base their acceptance of the
arbitration ON an agreement by Ncnc-
zucla to instruct the ArbitratOrS to nc-
cept certain principles in advance.
which would commit Venezuela to a
recognition of an Indebtedness OF about
$l5.UOO, 900.
Still til" state department is hopeful
that arbitration will prevail. for the Al
tentative is now realized to be actual
war between the allies and Venezuela.
1t is believed here that Germany, ut
| least, is not anxious TO enter upon this
state. \ declaration of war would at
once clothe the Ncnczuclans With ful!
rights of bclli%rrency. and this might
greatly rrotract the efforts Of the allies
to sulduc President Castro
Herr Won IIolirhcil. the German am.
basS;loor here, has gone to New York.
and Count Quadt. the secretary anal
charge d'ntiaircs, is tranSucting what
ever business the embassy has with the
Statr department and is iorwardin" to
Berlin such matters of Information
touching the situation in Venezuela as
are forthcoming from Mr.. EOwcn. The
explanation given for the am ba Ss;,dOr'S
visit to New York is simply business"
and the length of his absence is not
stated.
The navy department. has no an
nOllncelnent to make rcSpcl ting the or
derS to he given to Dewcy's ships. and
il is repeated that the sole purpose AMI
aim OF the department is so to place the
vessels, il few ut each important port
that the men may enjoy themselves
Christmas week without OvcrtaXing the
facilities at any one point.
TIE following ca ablr~ram was sent
yesterday by the navy department to
Admiral Dewey, in command of the
combined fleets. addressed to San juan
Send competent officer with dispatch
in torpedo boatdestroyer or other vcS-
sci to Caracas as assistant to American
minister
The following cablegram V IS sent to
Commander Diehl of the Marietta, now
lying at La Guara:
"Scnd Vauduscn (cXecutivc officer OF
the MariettD as assistant 20 the Amer
lean minister temporarily"
1t is stated ut the navy department
that one reason for sending the officers
to Caracas is the fact that Mr.. Bowen
is almost overwhelmed with the amount
of work imposed upon him by his many
charges. He lirS nearly all of the Eng
lish residents in Caracas dOmicilnd in
the American legation and is feeding
them from his own table. AS for the
torpedo boat destroyer ii is pointed out
that it will serve as Il dispatch boat to
keep Mr.. Bowen in touch with the near.
est cable station to Lii Guaira which
can Dc relied upon to transmit mos,
sages to Washington in case tic LII
Guaira cable is cur as an incident to tie
blockade.
No further orders went forward to
Dewey yesterday, but Secretary Moody
expects to have ready by today his or
der for the distribution of the vessels
of the combined fleet. Up to the pres.
ent moment llc has not reached any set,
tied determination as to any one ship.
There will he no effort on the part OF
This government to resist war blockade
OF the Venezuelan coast as against
merchant ships. Custom requires that
due notice shall be given of the blockade
and that fact. taken in connection with
the declaration that has been made IN
the British parliament by the al.
thorized representatives of the British
government will, it is understood be
futiiceht to justify all neutral nations
In the understanding that state of
war does actually exist. This might in
the end require issue of a proclamation
OF neutrality by President Roosevelt,
but this, it is stated, would not b"
timely now.