The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-24
THE GERMANS AND VENEZUELA
The Whole Matter Discussed and
Criticized in the

today, during the discussion of the for
eign office section OF the budget, Baron
Won Hertling, referred TO the Venezue-
Ian affair. He said his opinion at first
demanded action, since Germany's hon-
or seemed engaged, but after action had
been taken, apparently with success,
public opinion changed and doubts
arose as to whether it was necessary
for Germany to risk SO much.
Chancellor Van Buelow replied ~
ing: THE Venezuela matter was from
the very beginning neither a question
of territorial acquisition nor Of glory
for us, but of a settlement, through ex-
traordinary means, of business which
had been complicated by the debtors
untrustworthiness, whereby, of course,
the maintenance of our honor played a
part. We were able to express our
claim only through common action with
| England and Italy. 1t was not merely
q question Of arranging the matter in
| hand, but of giving a warning which
would serve for the future. The mere
| money standpoint must not control in
| such cases. We dare n Q submit to
| breaches Of the law. Otherwise we
| would not need ships or The
| Venezuela case was exceptional. We
shall not always dispose of such mat
| terS through force, out our action will
depend upon special circumstances.
1 proof tho T fnrop was necessary here is
seen from the fact that the English
| government also resOrted to fOrclble
measures, whereas it is a we'll known
principle of England's commercial poll
cy, that everybody investing private
| capital abroad does SO upon his own
risk. We found ourselves in the di-
lemma, but nobody can reproach us
with acting without sobriety and calm
ness. We had to take care that u
relations with other powers should not
be disturbed through this relatively
subordinate matter. There was no lack
of attempts to create such a distur-
bance. I refer, of course, to no gov
eminent but to the press, which at
tempted to engender i'll will between
the governments at London, Berlin and
Rome, on the one side and the United
II SI"ISS VII IN oIi1S ANS ~ 49,
grounded and s%illiest rumors were cir
culated, as if we designed to land
troops, make conquests, or violate the
integrity Of the South American repub-
lies. In such lying legends, one Amer
lean paper was especially great. 1t in
vented an interest of its own in the
foreign office, hat we wanted to sWa1-
low Venezuela first, hen Colombia and
finally Brazil"
This statement of the chancellor call
ed forth o laughter. He continued:
These perfidious attempts to show dis
cord were frustrated through the loyal
ty Of the cabinets and the confidence in
the honesty of our policy. These fam
tastic and malicious stories, to our sat-
%isfaction, failed of their Intended effect.
Our relations with England and the
United States remained intact and our
demands against Venezuela are to be
regarded as accepted, according to the
protocol settling the controversy"
The chancellor then turned to the
Dreibund saying: 1T will be renewed,
unchanged at the proper time, which
proves it is not an accidental OF tenn
porary constellation. Its object is the
maintenance of the status quo and
peace. The Dreibund is the most peace
full. the strongest, the most lasting and
the most elastic alliance. I took care
that the tariff and other political
questions should not be mixed up with
the renewal Of the Dreibund."
Professor Hasse of Leipsig University,
pan-German and National Liberal said:
of the Venezuela affair. A formal ex
L ria+;o, hos not noar,rrn1 Tho mora
effect of our cooperation with other
powers and inviting the INTERPRETATION
Of America will be to increase Ameri-
cas- reputation. while ours sinks. [ at
tribute to American intervention, the
hostile attitude of the V~enezuelans
The behaviour of our minister, Stern,
burg, has been of such a character that
the United States should pay his salary
I refer to his we'll known interview, il
which he even censured the late Prince
Bismarck'S policy as being Anticipated
The interview shows to a high degree
his vanity and tina the batteries o.
President Roosevelt were a strong dose
I have no words in which to character
iZe his action. He even ventures t
place the president on the same plan'
with the German Emperor. Why tina
is an incredible lack of national spirit
< One can really call this gentleman
Germany's expiatory envoy to the Unit
ed States"
Referring to an interview. which tn
! New York correspondent of a Berlin
: paper had with Minister ~Sternburg
Herr Oertel, agririan, remarked: I"
never read more foolish sentences.
, do not take it i'll of Sternbug that h
, L assam h1a5 tho commandjno generals q
: the seventh great power (the German
D expression for the press around him
/ He can learn much from them"
D Cancellor Won BueloW in the cours
of a second speech repealed Professo
Hasse's assertion that Germany coult
. have achieved more in Venezuela. H
said: professor Hasse is not satisfied
with material satisfaction. He want
"a