The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-18
Special cable Dfspdich TO THE Sun.
From THE SUs correspondent at Caracas.

From The Sus correspondent at Caracas
CARACAS, Dec. IA deputation, repre-
senting the commercial bodies OF Caracas
visited President Castro to-day, and pre-
scented a note urging that he take steps to
procure peace.
The note said that Venezuela had COM
piled with the demands Of national honor,
and in view OF her inability to meet with
force the acts Of Germany and Great Britain
the time had COM to yield The dele
gation recommended that United States
Minister Bowen lie named as mediator
| with power to carry out measures to end
the conflict on the best terms obtainable FOR
Venezuela.
Tonight it Is stated that President Castro
has decided to yield to the wishes OF the
delegation and sue for peace through
Minister Bowen.
He is reported to be willing to accept
the terms of the British and German ulti-
matums.
NEGOTIATIONS IN LONDON AND BERLIN.
LONDON. Dec. Accommodation are
PdSeiuB frequently oetWeen LOnuOn and
Washington.
Lord Lansdowne, Foreign Minister, CON-
ferred with Mr.. Henry White, the American
Charge d'Anaires, this afternoon.
BERLIN. Dec. 17.-Ofiicials OF the Foreign
Office say that the allied governments
have agreed to observe silence regarding
the arbitration proposals until decision
thereon is reached by them.
COLOGNE. Dec. 1.-THE Berlin CORE
spondent Of the Gazette says. in an appar-
emily officially communicated statement,
that no proposal regarding court Of arbi-
tration has yet been received from the
United States: but. as neither Germany nor
England desires more than satisfaction Of
their just claims. there could be no objec-
ton in principle to any proceeding offering
a reasonable guarantee for an equitable
settlement. 1t is not yet possible to judge
whether such a result could be obtained
through the mediation Of another State.
Germany has no interest in unneces-
sarily accelerating the course Of events.
She can afford to wait. and to wait in a
position which will daily become more in
convenient for President Castro.
STATE OF WAR EXISTS.
LONDON Dec. l7.-Premier Balfour, In
| the course OF a statement In the House Of
| Commons to-day regarding the blockade
| Of Venezuelan ports by Great Britain and
Germany. said he thought there was no
| such thing IA a pacific" blockade. and
| that state Of war existed bet ween the al
lied Powers and Venezuela.
Timothy Healy and Sir Charles Dixie both
asked IL the United States had consented to
the blockade. Sir Charles Dixie said that
| statements had appeared in Germany that
| TN United States declined to submit to
| the. ostion OF neutral where there were
no he. -erents.
| Mr. b. our replied that that referred to
| the controversy az to whether there could
| he such a thing as a peaceful blockade.
| He continued;
Il think il is quite likely that tho United
| States will think that there cannot be such
a blockade. l personally take the same
view. blockade evidently involves a
| state Of war"
CAREFUL PLANS FOR BLOCKADE.
Thomas Gibson Bowles gave notice in
| the House Of Commons yesterday that at
| to-day's session he would ask Prime Minis
{ err Bafour whether or not it was true that
the United States had sent a communication
TO Great Britain and Germany forbidding
Interference with American shipping. and.
| il 70, what was the use OF the Venezuelan
blockade.
| Mr. Balfour told Mr. Bowles that all the
conditions governing a blockade had been
carefully thought out by the Government
and would be published in duo time for the
information OF neutral Powers. The Gov
eminent was most anxious TO make the in