New-York tribune., 1903-02-17
VENEZUELlN BLUE BOOA
Minister Haggards -4ccnsaftoH
loaina Mr.. RUSSELL


ezuelan dispute was issued this evening. ihe
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. Haggard. to Foreign Minister Lahs-
downe dated Trinidad, December ~ concern
ing alleged illegal detention OF the brltish
schooner Harry Troop by the Venezuelan ooN-
ernnlent in an unhealthy place from May 10
November. 1902, whereby the crew were decl-
mated by dysentery. Mr.. Haggard says IN this
letter:
regret to say that it would appear .aii,a, anae I
nlaced too much faith on the complete accurdcs
of the statements of the secretary OF the Chteu
States Legation. w. w Russell. as 10 tte lln-
movement in the condition of the Harry Troop
etc when he saw her. These statements ma?
proba bly, be accounted for by the factS Wllcu
appear undoubted, that Mr.. Bowen was Inost
anxious for reasons best known TO himself, 10
represent the conduct of the Venezuelan author-
tiles in the most favorable light possibe, ana
that he had inspired his subordinate IN ihe S saInt
direction. To put it briefly. Mr.. Russeii ala no'
dare to say a word outside the legation con-
trary to President Castro's mode OF proceeding
Another noteworthy dispatch is Sir Michael
Herbert's report to Minister Lansdowne on his
disagreement with Mr.. Bowen dated January ~.
The British Ambassador says in this report:
The Italian Ambassador. the German Charge
dAffaireS and L called tonight on Mr. Bowen.
! Informed him that were forced 10 reckon
with public opinion in England. ana that II
might be necessary to faIf back on the
tionai tribunal at The Hague. We were unable
to obtain satisfactory answer from MI Bowen
who was very obdurate He ultimately made a
statement in reply in tie following terms: i
object to paying first the claims of. the allied
powers and the claims Of the other nations al
terward because: First, think it is unjust.
unfair and illegal to tie the hands of the SAID
other nations for a period of five or SIX years
that it would take to pay the claims of the
allied powers; second. if | recognize that brute
force alone be respected in the collection OF
claims | should encourage the said other nations
TO use force also: third. If the allied powers
wanted preferential treatment they should have
asked for it at the beginning.
Mr.. Bowen added. however that he was will
ing to grant months preference. This is the
only mention in the blue book of the dispute be-
tween Sir Michael Herbert and Mr.. Bowen.
The beginning of the blue book is taken up
with long affidavits from British subjects in
support of their claims against Venezuela for
compensation for outrages and Nenezuelas
counter protest with regard to the of the
steamer Ban Righ. The first important docu-
ment records a conversation between Foreign
Minister Lansdowne and the German Ambassa-
dor Count Wolff Metternich on July 23 last on
the subject of Anglo German cooperation. In
the course of this conversation Lord Lans-
downe said: We should be quite ready to con-
fer with the German Government with a view
to joint action" Germany August sug-
gested a joint naval demonstration. The Brit
ish Admiralty officials expressed the opinion
that the best form for this demonstration would
be a blockade. The seizure of the Venezuelan
gunboats suggested by Great Britain. This,
with the other details of the aggression. was
submitted for Germanys approval by Lord
Lansdowne on October 22.
The British Foreign Minister on November
Il instructed Sir Michael Herbert to put the
British before the United states Govern
ment. Secretary Hay. in reply, stated that his
government although it regretted that the
European powers should force against Cen
tral and South American countries could not
object to their taking steps to, obtain redress
for the injuries suffered by their subjects, pro-
vided that no acquisition of territory was con-
tempIatedl
The blue book, in general, covers the ground
already known 1t gives minute details Of the
British grievances against Venezuela from the
month of March. 1901, to the time of the signing
of the protocol. the salient features heing the
persistent endeavor to get President Roosevelt
to arbitrate and the minute nature of the Ger
man British agreement President Roosevelts
reply declining arbitrate, and urging refer
ence to The Hague tribunal, contains the fol-
lowing sentence:
After thorough consultation with all the
powers concerned, during which the President
found an honorable spirit of candor and mutual
consideration animating every one of them, he
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
interna tional tribunal at The Hague
Lengthy exchanges between the German Am
bassador, Wolff -Metternch,. and Lord Lans-
downe show that the latter in the closing stages
of the negotiations was anxious 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 an
nouncemcnt of the raising of the blockade.