The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-19

Caracas, December 15-Inaction reigns
In government circles here. The
officials do not know what to do and
are depending entirely upon the United
States to assist them.
A movement is on foot here. eaded
by prominent doctors and lawye~
quest President Castro to resign and to
ask Vice President Ramon Ayala to as
suze the presidency and form a cabi-
net without party tendencies. 1t is also
proposed to summon congress to appoint
. temporary president and arrange the
questions in dispute in a manner salts
factory to all concerned.
The Venezuelan government
rs that Great Britain has ~re-opened the
navigation Of the Orinoco river.
Two Warships will patrol the mouths
G the river and the river itself. This
measure applies only to foreign ships.
Vessels flying the Venezuelan flag are
excluded.
German cruiser Panther is going to
naracaibo to destroy the forts thre.
Minister Bowen, at the request of the
Dutch. Dr.. Van Leyden, who i
Curacao. has taken charge of Dutch
interests here The leading merchants
at LaGaaira arrived here last night,
abandoning that port owing to fear that
it will be shelled today.
The German cruiser Vineta is going
to visit Marguerite, ar island in the
Caribbean sea. belonging to Venezuela,
thirfv miles north of Cumana.
At. S o'clock yesterday, four loud ex-
piOsiOHs alarmed the city of Porto Ca
hnln On investigation If WAS found
that British marines had blown W the
Sub~terranean prison cells of Castle Lib
orator with dynamite. They also burn
ed all the wooden buildings surrounding
the castle and carried away everything
that could be transported. The Vene-
zuelaR government warship Miranda
escaped the vigilance of the German
cruisers Fake and Panther, which were
searching for her, and arrived at Mara
oaibo yesterday,
Cause for Comment i'm Washington.
Washington. December 1.-THE stu
alton in Venezuela is causing conSider-
able among senators and there
are indications that a resolution of in
auiry may be introduced at an early
day. This proceeding would in all prob
ability have been instituted today but
for the fact that assurances were re-
ceiVed from the state department that
the departments information is quite
meagre. If the question comes up 1t
probably will be dealt with in executive
session
1t has developed that the reason for
the delay in the consideration of Presi-
dent CastrO'S proposal to arbitrate he
disputes with Great Britain and Ger
many was the absence from London or
Lord L~ansdowne, the British minister
for foreign affairs. 1t appears that this
proposition had more than a perfume
tory endorsement by the United States
government. Mr.. Bowen having asked
permission to endeavOr to settle the
matter by arbitration, Secretary Hay
not only promptly accorded the permits
sion. but went to the length or himself
dispatching the proposal, which up to
that point had been rather vague and
informal to the British and German
governments.
Secretary Hay was in conference at
the White House for a short time with
the President today, regarding Venezue-
Ian affairs. Senator Cullom and Repre-
sentative Hit, the heads of the -~-o
committees on foreign affairs OF con-
sresS also saw the president, but 1t was
stated that little attention was given
TO Venezuela.
Among senators and representatives
who have discussed the Venezuelan
matter with President Roosevelt. the
~ituatfo is regarded as serious. bU'
is not generally believed to be likely
that the United States will become in
VOWED in the controversy.
C~onaiderins the Proposal Tor Nrbi-
tration.
London. December 15.-The ASsOciat'
ed Press has reason to believe that or
ders will be sent to the British com
mander in Venezuelan waters to take
no further aggressive action at present
pending = decision being arrived at o.
" ~-~.n-oT for nrhifrafinn This "a TS=
in the form of q proposal through tn
United States government to submit tn
claims OF British and German subject:
TO arbitration. which Lord Lansdown'
announced later in the day in the hous'
OF Lords is now under considerable
by the British government
Lord Lansdowne added:
w are greatly indebted to the goo
officers of the United States ministe
\ ut Caracas"
In Ambassador Choate's absence
Charge d'Affaires White is maxim;
4 Neyery effort to arrange some pacin
method of settlement of the dispute be
tween Great Britain and Venzuela- II
L. in constant communicable with tn
- state department at Washington. Moth
iur definite has yet been arranged, bu
the Associated Press understands tina
there Is some hope of further hostilitie
being averted. The negotiations ar
Handicapped by the absence from Lon
don of several of the cabinet minister
as before an answer can be given, tn
cabinet will probably ave to meet n
decision is expected before Wednesday
Italy VIII Participate I'm the BLOCK
ade.
Berlin. December 15.-The foreign OF
fee informed the Associated Press to
day that Italy will participate in tn
blockade by agreement with the allie
and that a portion OF the coast will b