The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-20

Berlin. March 1s-In the Reichstag to-
day during the discussion of the Foreign
Office section OF the budget. Baron Won
Hertling, Centre party. referred to the Ven-
ezuelan AFFAIR.
He said public opinion at first demanded
action. since Germany's honor seemed en-
gagged. but after action had been taken, APP
parently with success, public opinion
changed and doubts arose as to whether 1t
was necessary for Germany to risk so much
Chancellor Won Buelow replied:
The Venezuela matter was from the
very first neither a question of territorial
acquisition nor of glory for us. but of a
settlement through extraordinary means or
business which had been complicated by
the debtors untrustworthiness, whereby. of
course, the maintenance of our honor
played a part
i've were able to establish our claim
only through common action with England
and Italy. 1t was not merely question OF
warning which would serve for the future
The mere money standpoint must not
to breaches of the law. Otherwise, we
would not need ships or cannons. The Ven
ezuela case was exceptional. We shall not
always dispose of such matters through
force, but our action will depend upon
special circumstances.
ENGLAND'S EXAMPLE.
Proof that force was necessary here Is
seen from The fact that the English Govern
ment also resorted to forcible measured
whereas 1t is a well-known principle G
England's commercial policy that everybody
upon his risk
I'VE found ourselves in dilemma, but
nobody can reproach us with acting with
I'VE had TO take care that our relations
with other Powers should not be disturbed
through this relatively subordinate matter.
There was. no lack Of attempts to create
such a disturbance. "a.
Il here refer. of course. to no govern
hut fha attemnted
engender i'll will between the governments
at London, Berlin and Rome on one side
most ungrounded and silliest rumors were
circulated, IL We designed to land troops,
make or vela5e the integrity
In such lying legends one American pa
per was especially great. It invented an
informed the paper that we wanted to swal-
low Venezuela first, then Colombia and
finally Brazil"
REIcHsTAG AMUSED.
This statement of the Chancellor called
forth loud laughter. He continued:
These perfidious attempts to SOW discord
were frustrated through the loyalty of the
of our policy. These fantastic and mali
cious stories, to our satisfaction, failed Of
their Intended s effect Our relations With
intact and our demands against Venezuela
are to be regarded as accepted, according
Won Buelow then summarized the terms
of the protocol. mentioning that Venezuela
had already paid the first installment Of the
German indemnity, and said:
THE claims Of the second class have not
yet been subjected to investigation. The
Venezuelan Government Is ready to COOP
crate in Joint commission at Caracas for
investigating and fixing the amounts Of the
claims. The third-class claims will also
be settled
stated. but It is small. We have decided
not to make demand that Venezuela pay
an Indemnity to cover the costs Of the
blockade in consequence Of the rather hope
less financial condition OF that country.
We attained what we wanted. The
action against Venezuela was inaugurated
without a fanfare OF trumpets and with all
necessary vigor and was carried TO the end
without weakness and within expedient
bounds"
Professor Hasse Of Leipsic University.
Pan-German and National Liberal, said:
~ am not satisfied with this settlement of
the Venezuela affair. formal expiration
has not occurred.
THE moral effect Of our cooperation with
other Powers and inviting the intermedia-
ton of America will be to increase Amer
ica's reputation. while ours sinks. / at
tribute to American Intervention the hostile
attitude of the VeneZuelans.
THE behavior of our Minister. Sternberg.