Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
BRITISH BLUE BOOK
TELLS THE STORY OF THE TROU-
BLES IN VENEZUELA.
President Roosevelt's Reply, Declining
to Arbitrate and Urging Refer
ence to The Hague.

A London cablegram says that blue
book on the Venezuelan dispute was issued
last evening. The most interesting dispatch
In the book, from an American point of
view, Is an official letter from the former
British minister at Caracas, w. H. d. Hag-
gard, to Foreign Minister Lansdowne, dated
Trinidad. December 80. concerning the al
legged Illegal detention Of the British
schooner Harry Troop by the Venezuelan
government in an unhealthy place from
May to November, 1902, whereby the crew
were decimated by dysentery.
The beginning Of the blue book is taken
up with lengthy aff1davits from British SUBJ
jects In support of their claims against
and Venezuela's counter protests with re-
gard to the case of the steamer Ban Righ.
The first important document records q
conversation between Foreign Minister
Lansdowne and the German ambassador,
Count Wolff Metternich, on July q last. on
the subject Of Anglo German CO. operation
In the course Of this conversation Lord
Lansdowne said:
Lansdowne's Statement.
Eve should be quite ready to confer with
the German government with a view to
joint action" ~ p va III
Germany, on August g. suggested joint
naval demonstration. The British admir-
atty officials expressed the opinion that the
best form for this demonstration would be
a blockade. The seiznrefsof the Venezuelan
gunboats was suggested by Great Britain.
This, with the other details OF the aggres-
sion, was submitted for Germany's approval
by Lord Lansdowne on October o.
The British foreign minister, November
IL, instructed Sir Michael Herbert to put
the British case before the United States
government. Secretary Hay, in reply,
stated that his government, although 1t re-
GREETED that the European powers should
use force against Central and South Amer
lean countries. could not object to their
taking steps to obtain redress for the in
juries suffered by their subjects, provided
that no acquisition of territory was con-
templated."
The blue book in general covers the
ground already known. 1t gives minute de-
tails Of the British grievances against
Venezuela from the month OF March, 1901,
to the time of the signing Of the protocol,
the salient features being the persistent
endeavor to get President Roosevelt to
arbitrate and the minute nature Of the Ger
man-Brttish agreement.
Roosevelt's Reply.
President Rooseyelt's reply. declining to
arbitrate and urging reference to The
Hague tribunal, contains the folio wing sem
tence:
AFTER a thorough consultation with all
the powers concerned, during which the
President found an honorable spirit Of cam
dor and mutual consideration ANNA ting
every one of them. he has been greatly
gratffied to learn that In the event of his
not undertaking the Important duty which
the powers invited him to undertake they
would all be willing to accept reference to
the international tribunal at The Hague
Lengthy exchanges between the German
ambassador, Wolff Metternlch, and Lord
Lansdowne show that the latter in the
closing stages Of the negotiations, was anx-
fous that Germany should not insist too
much on the percentage OF the customs to
be allotted for the payment of claims. The
blue book closes with the announcement OF
the raising Of the blockade.
German Opinions.
Berlin cablegram says: The newspa-
pers generally have little to say about the
Venezuelan settlement. Those which reflect
the governments views affirm that Ger
many comes out Of the affair measurably
we'll. insomuch as she obtains at the end of
the negotiations all she asked for at the
beginning
The papers which are independent Of off,
ciai influence. notably the pan-German ex-
ponents and certain papers of reactionary
tendencies. say that the only power which
mas come out OF the affair with heightened
prestige Is the United States, that none of
the European powers has Strengthened its
position. and that, the two great powers
nave ma been standing In the eyesrof the world
for two months IN, a defereutial attitude
toward the United, States. practically ask
Ing permission to coercef an impotent state.
Various newspapers Ealiude to the Monroe
doctrine In careful language. Affirming that
europe can only recognise, the doctrine as
International law after q. congress Of the
powers has been held on the Subject.