Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-19
NOT TO USE FORCE.
European Powers Have Learned Les.
son in the Venezuelan Episode.

European Powers Have Learned Les.
son in the Venezuelan Episode.
| Washington, Feb. ia general
opinion prevails here in government
and diplomatic circles that there will
not be any attempt on the part of the
European powers to collect by force
debts due them by Latin American ma
tions. The lesson of the Venezuela
i embroglio has been, according to prom
inent men in Washington, that coer-
cion by bombardment and similar
| means is so offensive to the United
States government that continuation
of such measures would be liable to the
construction that is intended as an act
of unfriendliness and disregard of this
country.
In regard to the reports that Ger
many intended to adopt coercive meas
ures toward Colombia and Brazil, to
secure the adjudication of claims due
German subjects one of the most prom
inent officials of the administration
said today that he was satisfied that
the reports We're not true. He did not
look for trouble between any Of the
European allies and any South Amer
ican or Central American country
1t should be understood, however
that the United States government has
no intention, in the event of the adop-
ton of a program for the forcible COL
lection of debts, due to Germany, or
any other European nation by Brazil
Colombia, or any Latin American re-
public, OF assuming any other attitude
than was assumed by it in the Venezue-
Ian e1nbroglio. 1t is only the known
sentiment in this country against debt
collection by blockades and bombard-
ments on the Western hemisphere that
is expected to deter Germany and other
countries from repeating the Venezue-
la episode.
Minister Bowen is taking steps to-
ward effecting a settlement with all the
peace powers as rapidly as possible.
This afternoon he called upon the Mex
lean and French Ambassadors, the min
listers from Sweden and Norway, Dem
mark, the Netherlands, Belgium. and
Spain, to inform them formally of the
signing of the American Venezuelan
protocol.
With each envoy copy of the Amer
lean protocol was left, Mr.. Bowen stat
ing that Venezuela desired that the
remaining protocols should in all es-
sential details conform to it, In sub
stance this protocol already has been
cabled to the various foreign offices,
and the latter will instruct their repre-
sentatives here what steps are to be
taken toward the drafting of similar
conventions.
In the signing of the other protocols
diplomatic precedence will be :tban
doned for the rule of Mr.. Bowen is
First come, first served" but in any
event it is expected several days will
elapse before any one OF the peace
powers is ready to sign it's protocol.
In diplomatic circles and among state
department officials considerable at
tention is being paid to the provisions
of the third set of protocols, The Hague
protocols, which will have to deal ex-
clusively with the setting in motion
of the tribunals cumbersome machin-
cry These protocols, in addition to
defining the scope of the arbitration,
also will stipulate the number of arbi-
traitors to be selected.
In order that Venezuela may go to
The Hague on the same footing as the
peace powers having claims against
her. it is expected the rough draft of
The Hague protocol will be decided
upon at a joint conference between Mr.
Bowen and the representatives. here of
the powers. Secretary Hay will re-