Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-04
AGAINST VENEZUELA
Germany and England Adopt
Punitive Measures.
WARSHIPS ORDERED ON THE SCENE
Rumors That President Castro Has
offered to Settle All Claims If
Given Time Not Made
known to Powers.

LONDON, Dec. 4.-Great Britain and
Germany, according to official state
ments made here, have commenced
punitive measures against Venezuela.
German war vessels, 1t is stated, are
already on the scene of the contem-
plated action, and Great Britain by to-
day should have squadron there capa-
bic of coping with any resistance that
Venezuela might offer.
Meanwhile 1t is asserted that no def
mite answer has yet been received from
Washington by the fnanciers here
who wish to bring about pacific set
Element. An important communication
one way OF the other is expected from
Washington today. If the United
States is willing to give its moral sup
port to the request that Venezuela be
allowed time to fulfill the suggested
bargain, the plans thereof will at once
be submitted to the British foreign Of
fee. II Washington refuses to suggest
to the European powers that Venezue-
la be allowed time, it is probable that
the financial house now interested will
drop the plan altogether. In the latter
alternative the Venezuelan delegation
here is likely to submit the suggested
settlement to the British and German
governments, with an application for
time to admit of their entering into
negotiations with other financial inter-
ests.
The Venezuelan delegates maintain
that their status has been seriously af-
fected by the adoption Of the aggres-
sive measures announced yesterday,
but they declare that it would be OBJ
viously bad policy, in spite of the crit
zeal position Of their country, to make
any suggestion to Europe until the at
titude of the United States, both as a
joint creditor and a largely interested
political power, had been ascertained.
One who is in position to know
states that. Venezuela offers the pay
ment on unified loan of over 3,OO0,-
600, interest yearly, guaranteed by the
customs, with the establishment of
European bank at Caracas to superin-
tend the collection. The whole plan is
on basis similar to that on which
Brazil satisfied its European creditors.
If such a method is now followed, the
Venezuelan delegation maintains that
all claims can eventually be met,
whereas it alleges that the temporary
seizure of the customs would so dis
turb the commerce CT the country as to
practically render 1t impossible to sat-
isfy the European bondholders and
would bring with 1t the danger of an
other revolution. t'
All these details are still unknown to
the powers who have ordered their
warships to Venezuela. In spite Of the
announcement Of joint action by Great
Britain and Germany Downing street
exhibits not little perplexity over the
Berlin dispatch Dec. announcing that
President Castro has handed to the
German minister at Caracas q written
acceptance of part of Germany's claim
sufficiently comprehensive to delay the
presentation of joint ultimatum by
Germany and Great Britain, if not rep
dering it altogether unnecessary, and
also stating that it was understood
that Great Britain's demands would be
satisfied. Not the slightest official In
formation to this effect has reached
opdan Il.