Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-16
Official Announcement as
To EngIand's Course
in Venezuela.
TO BLOCKADE PORTS
But Will Not Land Brit
iSh Troops or OCCu-
py Territory.

London. Dec. 16.-Rcplying to
question in the house of commons
today Under Foreign Secretary Gram
borne said no attempt had been made
by Great Britain to refer the dispute
with Venezuela to arbitration.
In the house of lords today For
eign Secretary Lansdowne said if the
seizure of Venezuelan gunboats did
not produce the desired effect fur
ther coercive measures would be en-
ployed. The matter had been con-
sidered i'm consultation with Ger
many. and it had been decided TO re-
sort TO the blockade of the ports. 1t
was not intended to land a British
force and still less to occupy Nene-
zuelan territory.
Outlook Not Bright
At the foreign office this evening it
was said many difficulties have arisen
in the way of arriving at a basis of
what can be arbitrated in the Nene-
zuelan matter and what can be 9th
erwiSe settled. The outlook for pa
cific settlement of the dispute is not
particularly bright.
Italy Makes Her Intentions known.
Washington, Dec. 16.-The Italian
ambassador today called at the state
department and advised Secretary
Hay that Italy had joined the allies
in the operations against Venezuela.
He requested that Bowen assume
charge of Italian interests in Nenezu-
Ella and the secretary granted this
request subject to the approval of
Venezuela. Italy enters the combina
tion on the same plane as to absten-
tion from territorial seizures as Ger
many and Great Britain.
Hay Wants to Hear.
Failing to hear from Europe as to
BOwen's proposal TO arbitrate Nene-
zuelan troubles, Hay today addressed
cablegrams to the ambassadors at
London, Berlin and Rome, instruct
ing them to call the matter again to
the attention of the governments to
which they are accredited, with a
view TO securing an early expression
of opinion from them.
simple Proposition to Arbitrate.
Berlin, Dec. 16.-Minister Bowen's
communication to Germany through
the United States government in be-
half of President Castro was received
here yesterday. 1t was a simple pro-
posaI to arbitrate the question in
dispute and not accompanied by any
conditions.
Berlin, Dec. 16.-The German gov
ernment has not yet replied to Cas-
tro's offer of arbitration, being still
in correspondence with the British
government on the subject.
Washington, Dee. 16. - The South
and Central American diplomatic rep
resentatives here are i'll Il state of
anxiety that finds expression in fire.
quent calls At the state department for
information. No less than six minis
ters were among Secretary Hays Wis |
itors yesterday. although this was not |
diplomatic reception day. Secretary
Hay was in conference at the White |
House for short time with the prcSi- |
dent yesterday regarding Venezuelan |
affairs. Senator CullOm and Repre- |
sentative Hit. the heads of the two |
committees on foreign affairs of CON |
Eress. also saw the president. bHt it |
was stated that little attention was |
given to Venezuela.
Talk of Peace at London.
Meantime the most important news |
was from London, and was to the ef |
feet that there was reason to believe !
that orders will be or have been sent !
TO the British commander in Nene- |
Zuelan waters to take no further ag- |
greSSive action ut present, pending |
decision being arrived at on the pro |
posaI for arbitration. This peace offer |
came in the form of proposal through |
the United States government to sub |
nit the claims of British and German |
subjects to arbitration, which Lord |
Lansdowne announced later in the day
in the house of lords is now under
consideration by the British govern
ment''
VenezueIais Reply to John Bull.
The same cable stated that Lans- |
dOwne said that since the parlla-
mentary paper giving the Venezuelan /
correspondence had been issued the |
government had received from Minis
ter Haggard cable summary of what |
purports to be Venezuela's reply to the |
British ultimatum. Therein Venezue-