Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-16
The Trouble in Venezuela.

Venezuela is about. anyway. In gen.
eral way most who have read the
newspaper accounts understand that
England and Germany are trying TO
collect some debts there. and that this
country does not regard the proceed
inRs as any violation of the Monroe
doctrine as long as England and Ger
many do not seize any territory for
permanent occupation. They have be-
gun operations by destroying or con-
fiscating the little Venezuelan fleet and
by landing marines. Diplomatic nego-
tiations are severed and the demon
stration by the fleets Of the two Euro
pean powers amounts practically to
war. The Venezuelan government is
feeling less like fighting cock than it
was at first. and is looking toward
Uncle Sam for help.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press explains the cause of the trouble
and says that railroads are at the bot
tom of it all. Great Britain demands
payment for losses sustained by her
citizens during the unbroken series of
revolutions that have cursed that
country for a generation. Germany de-
mands the settlement of long overdue
interest on bonds, guaranteed by the
Venezuelan government and damages
sustained by German corporate inter-
ests. The number of English residents
in Venezuela is comparatively small.
The great bulk of the countrys busi-
ness, particularly in La Guayra, Cara
cas- and Valencia, is in the hands of
Germans. Whenever revolution
breaks loose the rebels make no dis
elimination between native and for
eign business men when it comes to
levying forced contributions to carry
on their warfare. The main railroad
lines are English built, and during the
recent revolution its traffic was de-
layed. its bridges dynamited and its
passengers arrested and abused. For
this the government of Great Britain
demands a monied indemnity, as well
as for the losses sustained by mer-
chants and others who were "held up
alternately by the revolutionists and
the government. -.
Germany's demands also come from
trouble over railroad lines. but in this
case it is on account of the failure of
Venezuela to pay the interest on rail-
road bonds held by royal personages
in Germany. Venezuela has persist
emily failed to make good it's obligation
in regard to the bond interest, which
became necessary through failure of
the railroad to make expenses. The
accumulation of this debt caused the
German government to threaten a
demonstration several years ago, but
a commissioner was sent to Berlin, who
succeeded in refunding it on a salts
factory basis. - &C.. .- "a ts-.- g..
The country has been so racked by
revolutions and plundered by unfaith-
full politicians that there has been
nothing left with which to meet its
| most pressing obligations. For two
years it defaulted on it's foreign debt
interest. 1t is one OF the richest coun-
| tries in South America and paradox
ically one of the poorest. AS nearly as
| can be estimated it's total foreign debt
in 1901 amounted to $25,S55,720. and
it's internal debt to about $4,000, 900.
The German railway line has recently
suffered greater disasters at the hands
Of the warning Venezuelans than the
English road. For weeks it was in the
hands of the revolutionists. When
they abandoned it they destroyed
bridges, burned rolling stock and 9TH
erwise crippled the road to prevent the
government. troops from using it in
pursuit. -s.k
From all Indications 1t would seem
that Germany has become tired OF
promises to pay and demands cash
There is no money in the Venezuelan
treasury, and as the borrowing powers
of the government are exhausted-cap-
italists being afraid to trust a country
where administrations change over
night and property is unsafe-drastie
measures will have to be adopted Il
secure payment or satisfactory secur,
Iity.
Venezuela consists of eight states
and several territories. with a total
area of $4,000 square miles. It has d
population of about $500. 900, of whom
$4,000 are Indians. OF the latter 5o,-
600 are living in a state of semi-sav-
asery in the interior. The interior OF
no South American country, excep,
probably Brazil, is so little known al
Venezuela. Beyond it's seacoast. a
narrow strip Of country fifty miles
II wide bordering the great Orinoco
which is thinly populated with decay.
ing cities and towns. the country Is a
vast stretch Of unexplored forests
, Gala