The daily Republican., 1902-12-04
ARE AGAINST
VENEZUELA.
Germany and England Adopt
Punitive Measures Against
the South Americans.
WARSHIPSORDERED THERE
Rumors That Castro Has Of
fered to Settle Claims Not
Made Known to
Powers.

! LONDON, Dec. 4.-Great Britain and
Germany, according to official state
ments made here, have commenced
punitive measure. 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 a squadron there capa-
BILE of coping with any resistance that
Venezuela might offer.
Meanwhile It is asserted that no def
mite answer has yet been received from
Washington by the tinanciers here
who wish to bring about pacific set
tlelnent An important communication
one way or the other is expected from
Washington today. If the United
States ia 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
flee. If Washington refuses to suggest
to the European powers that Venezue-
la be allowed time, 1t Is probable that
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.
slve measures announced yesterday,
but they declare that it would be OBJ
vlously bad policy, in spite of the crit
ical 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 ascertaincd.
One who Is In a position to know
states that Venezuela offers the pay
ment on a unified loan Of over $3OOO.-
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 a basis similar to that Oh which
Brazil satisfied Its European creditors.
II such a method is now followed, the
Venezuelan delegation maintains that
Ml claims can eventually be met,
whereas 1t alleges that the temporary
seizure of the customs would so dig
turb the commerce Of the country as to
practically render it impossible to sat.
isfy the European bondholders and
would bring with it the danger of an.
other revolution.
All these details are still unknown I'd
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 ths
Berlin dispatch Dec. announcing that
President Castro has handed to the
German minister Mt Caracas written
acceptance Of part Of Gernany's claim
sufficiently comprehensive to delay the
presentation of a joint ultimatum by
Germany and Great Britain, if not rem
dering 1t altogether unnecessary, and
also stating that it was understood
that Great Brltain's demands would be
satisfied. Not the slightest official in
formation to this effect has reached
London.