Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-24
Fonr SAN CARLOS INCIDENT.

ID
Whether or not 1t shall prove that the
German bombardment of Fort San Carlos.
at the entrance of Lake Maracaibo; was
iustifiable under international law, and
the conditions that arose, the incident
vss most unfortunate one. President
Castro claims in effect that the opening
of fire on the fort was an entirely unpro-
voked overt act. The Berlin war office,
after explaining that the seizure Of the
lagoon was necessary To- an effective
.:umes, in the absence of definite infor-
nation on that point that the COM
mander of the fort fired first. That is
the. way we read the Berlin kilograms
on the subject.
At this distance 1T would appear that
The German naval commander acted has
fly. Unquestionably. he seems to have
acted Independently Of Gcrmany's Brit
Ssh ally, and if he was. not. justified in
proceeding to extremes-if, as suggested
st Washington, he went far beyond the
limits necessary for the protection OF
AJGIH1an IlLGIeSIS-ll Is 1lSl lI1pi OEdpic
that complication may arise between
Germany and Great Britain over the mat
ter.- Nor is it altogether improbable that
such an outcome would be hailed with
satisfaction by the British people, espe-
ciaily Il It should afford Great Britain an
opportunity Tor Withdrawing from the al
lance, into which it Is row recognized
she was hoodwinked.
1t is very evident that the British
masses are quite sore over the agree
rnent, particularly since Germanys re-.
fusal 10 unite with Great Britain In the
1atter's protest against the violation
by Russia of the Bosphorus and the OAR
danelles. It is clear. 20 them that the
Anglo-Gernan alliance regarding the
Venezuelan affair represented no rap
Britain. save In SO far as 1t served a
selfish purpose Of the formers In the
matter Of the South American case alone:
But. be all this as it may, and to bring
The bonbardrnent incident directly home.
The Venezuelan affair had reached a
OF an early settlement without further
friction. Both this and the Venezuelan
government We're working to that end,
and Germany's acquiescence In the pro-
posed method of adjustment and her "as-
surance" had allayed the suspicion. at
one time broadcast. that Emperor viii
liam was a wicked partner in the al
lance with Great Britain, and was seek
ing to bring about conditions that would
open the way for violation Of the Mon
zoe doctrine. All opportunity for jim
Ecistic outburst In this country, calcu-
lated to ;rritafe Germany and encourage
Venezuela to hope for interference on our
s hart, had been cut OF.
We have not believed heretofore. and
10 not believe now. that Germany is
scheming for territorial acquisitions in
this hemisphere. Her national honor is
pledged against infringement of the Mon
roe doctrine. The rough methods OF
the German naval commanders in Ven
ezuelan waters are probably explained in
the saying. Like master, like man
None the less. the Fort San Carlos incl
den: has again aroused the suspicion re-
ferred to. and there is danger that this
will be made an excuse for the introduc-
siop in Congress of some jingoistic resolu-
tion. and the Indulgence there in intern
peYate utterances.
II 1t shall develop that the dignity and
.ntarests and obligations Of this country
call Tor departure from the policy it
hes SO Tar pursued with respec. to the
Venezuelan trouble, and demand that It
notify Germany that she has gone fer
enough or too far. there should be no
hesitation about so doing. But Wash
ington adpices state that UP to the present
there have been no developments which
afford reason for our abandoning DIR
position OF iion-participation and irri-
tating as the San Carlos incident may
be, high authority Is Of opinion that tech-
oicaiiy. at least. Gern,any's course Is de-
feas.bie under the law OF nations Lei
rs hope therefore that both the jingoes
an CONGRESS and the jlngoistic papers will
Keep cool. and leave the matter In the
hands of the stale department. where at
this stage il certainly belongs. Until ii
Z shall have been demonstrated that Ger
many has contravened the Law OF ma
sfasns. broken the pledges she gave us
ead has designs on South American ter-
/ r1sosy, wp Should gtve her the bsaet,t az
ne Go;,bs md not run the risk az cre-.
sfssx unrest "A Tho COUNT ana disturb
.>k.