Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-17
MUST ADMIT OUR SHIPS.
Determination Here Regarding the
Peaceful Blockade"

A cable dispatch from Caracas says: THE
Spanish minister to Venezuela, Senor Gay
tan de Ayala, and the Belgian charge d af-
faires, NJ. Van Der Heyden, have presented
joint letter to the Venezuelan minister OF
foreign affairs, in which they ask, in case
the claims of other foreign powers are paid
by Venezuela, that the same treatment
given those powers be accorded to Spain
and Belgium
Senior Ojeda, the Spanish minister and
Baron Moncheur. the Belgian minister,
have not received official advices relative to
the Joint note their governments nave ad-
dressed to President Castro asking that in
the event Of a settlement of the claims or
the allied powers Spain and Belgium be
given similar treatment. The Spanish MIN
lister denies that there Is the slightest PROD
ability of further action on the part OF
Spain unless events in Caracas make 1t nee
essary for the Spanish representative TO
withdraw Minister Ojeda does not antlci-
pate that result in view of the strong ties
Of friendship that exist between his govern
ment and the South American republic
Baron Moncheuf regards the position OF
his country as thus far neutral, put IN case
circumstances change that attitude 1t Is
likely that Minister Bowen will be request
ed to look after Belgian interests IN the
Venezuelan capital. Belgium having no
navy it will not be possible for that coun-
try to join in the naval demonstration OF
the allied fleet.
Cannot Keep Out Our Ships.
Some attention has been given here to
the projected peaceful blockade proposed
to be established, and after a mature con-
sideration, the officials have come to the
conclusion that a blockade of that charac-
ter cannot be recognized, as against United
States shipping Al least. According to the
position taken if the allies seek to exclude
Venezuelan shipping from entry to Venezu-
elan ports that might be permitted, but
they may not exclude United States shlpS
in regular business unless a genuine state
of war is recognized. Regardless or the
merits of the present controversy, the state
Department feels that the vast interests of
American trade demand that that rule be
adopted and adhered to, else American
trade may be crippled at the Will OF any
naval power that sought to resort to the
anomalous "pea ceful blockade" If Great
Britain and Germany wish to exclude
American merchantmen from Venezuelan
ports they must exclude all shipping, IN
cluding their own, condition Whlch can
\be met only by recognizing the existence
Of a state of war, and the dismissal Of the
present fiction.
Italy's Request.
The only cablegram received from United
States Minister Bowen overnight was to
the effect that the Italian minister at Car
acas had requested him to look after the
Italian interests in Venezuela, a charge
which Mr.. Bowen, under instructions from
the State Department, has accepted The
Italian minister, therefore was about to
leave Caracas Mr. Bowen's position Is
Guilty. He is now in charge of the interests
OF Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Hol-
land besides those of the United States,
and may be called upon to take charge of