Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-13
A COMPLICATED SITUATION.
Sinking of Gunboats in Peace
Blockade" Is Peculiar Thing.

Washington. Dec. Fit is an inter-
csting fact that un to this point the
state department has not undertaken
To recognize the limitations that might
be placed on American commerce in
case OF a Venezuelan blockade. The
German government. last year, sought
to secure an understanding on this
point. but the state department simply
recorded the views of that government
without either accepting or rejecting
them. so that our hands are free. The
matter came UP in December, 1901,
when Germany was considering coer-
Give measures against Venezuela and
addressed the following promemoria
to the state department:
Imperial German Embassy, Washing
ton. D. c., Dec. 20, 1901.
In case the German government
should be obliged to use coercion
against Venezuela in connection with
the pending claims. it Will have TO be
considered what kind OF measures
should be applied.
The most important measure of CO.
ercion. that is. the blockade of Vene
zuelan harbors. would have to be car
ried through without a declaration of
war preceding it. The blockade would
therefore be a peace blockade. Such
blockade would touch likewise the ships
of neutral rowers, inasmuch as such
ships. although a confiscation of them
would not have to be considered. would
have TO be turned away and prohibited
until the blockade should be raised. In
the same manner European states have
proceeded on such occasions, especially
England and France.
Acting under cabled instructions re-
ceived. today. from their home offices,
Mr.. Won Holleben. the German ambas-
sador. and Sir Michael Herbert. the
British ambassador. today, presented
10 the state department the thanks of
their governments for the services OF
Minister Bowen in securing the release
of the German and British subjects
arrested 10y President Castro. Both
diplomats discussed the Venezuelan
situation with Secretary Hay, who Of
fc-ed to keep the embassies informed Of
all news received here. This Informal
ton is being cabled at once from the
embassies to Berlin and London. which,
ii i understood. are receiving the bulk
cf their .adyices on the Venezuelan sit
uation from Washington.
Very little in the way of direct in
struCtiOns has been received by either
the German or British ambassador
from their governments on the Nene-
Zuelan situation The last few days.
They have been directed to assure the
state department that neither Great
Britain nor Germany intends to depart
in any particular in the plan OF joint
faction against Venezuela which was
drawn no in London and Berlin. SUBJ
mitred to the state department some
weeks ago. Mr.. Pulido. Venezuela's
charge d'affaires. has received no con-
| firmation from his government of the
sinking of the Venezuelan Cunboats by
the foreign fleet of La Guaira and, to-
day. he said:
Il confess l am unable TO see what
the foreign powers mean by sinking my
country's little gunboats, which are
scarcely more than yachts compared
to the foreign men-of-war. / do not
understand il for the reason that as
surances have been given only in the
last day or two that the blockade es-
tablished was to be peace blockade
/ regard the sinking of the gunboats
as absolutely unwarranted. 1t will be
found that the situation has been
gravely complicated thereby