The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-15

II
ment might institute a blockade and take
possession Of her custom houses for the
purpose Of collecting the money, Vene-
zuela proposed to deliver monthly GER
tain sums TO our State Department,
which, on its part should undertake to
distribute the money among foreign
creditors. Secretary EvARTs on Feb.
IS, 1881, indicated in a note to the Vene-
zuelan Minister at Washington that the
proposal would be considered favorably,
provided all the foreign creditors should
assent to it.
Secretary BLAINE, who succeeded Mr..
! EvABTs, took a like view OF the situation,
and on July 20, 1891, in a note to Mr..
NoYEs, our Minister at Paris, suggested
that, with the acquiescence Of the Euro
pean creditors, the United States might
place an agent in Caracas to receive
monthly from the Venezuelan Govern
ment an amount TO be agreed upon, the
said amount to be distributed thereafter
pro rata among the creditor nations. Mr.
BLAINE added that should the Caracas
Government fail for more than three
months to pay the installments agreed
upon, the American agent might be
authorized to take charge Of the custom
houses at La GuRyra and Puerto Cabello,
and TO reserve from the monthly re-
ceipts a sufficient sum TO pay the cove
nanted amount.
Nothing came OF Mr.. BLAINE's pro-
posal, because the French Government
refused TO yield its claim TO a priority
Of settlement, and preferred to enter
into direct negotiations with Venezuela.
1t is plain, however, that both Mr.. EvARTs
and Mr.. BLAINE were alive to the danger
Of permitting the custom houses Of an
indebted American commonwealth to
be administered by creditor Power;
for the principle thus established would,
II logically carried out, warrant the
sequestration Of debtors whole GUS
toms revenue for an indefinite period,
and thus materially affect the destiny
Of debtor commonwealth.
1t appears that not only a great many
Democrats, but some Republicans, eye.
with suspicion the seventh article OF
the treaty, which, even in its amended
form, provides that "the United States,
while this treaty is being executed, may
take such steps az it may deem proper
TO preserve order and facilitate the ac-
complainant Of the purposes thereof
The provision is construed TO mean
that our navy and our army might be
used TO uphold the administration Of
President MORALES, who would thus be
transformed into a mere dummy, in
whose name we should practically enter
into possession Of the eastern part of |
the island. There certainly is nothing in !
the career Of Mr.. MORALES which would |
justify US in swerving from our funda-
mental duty to avoid interference with |
the internal politics Of an American COM
An amendment has been proposed
that would limit our powers and respon-
sibilities under the seventh article, by
declaring that the treaty will expire
by Limitation at the end Of ten years,
unless previously extended by treaty.
A good deal may be done in ten years,
however, and there are many far sighted
who deem il more prudent |
10 strike out the article altogether. !
the treaty thus mutilated
would be any longer acceptable to Mr.
MORALES may be doubted, as, in his
iesire TO bring about intimate relations
With the United States, it is believed
hat he, like his predecessor, President
3AEz. is mainly prompted by desire
o assure his own continuance in power.
L may be remembered that not long
Ifter the treaty negotiated with Santo
Domingo by the Grant administration
vas rejected by the Senate Mr.. BAEz
ceased to be the Dominican Executive.
ofoourse, if we place agents in Domini-
AN custom houses we are entitled TO
protect them from molestation; but
hat seems as far as we ought to 60 in
he maintenance Of order