New-York tribune., 1908-08-25
HOLLAND AND VENEZUELA

II is remarked upon by some persons as IN
congruous that Holland the capital OF which is
the scene of the universal peace conferences
and the seat of the International tribunal OF
Cancellation and arbitration should be the hrst
of all the nations which Mr. Castro Of Venez-
uela has affronted to proceed to extreme meas
ures with him ard actually 70 contemplate war.
Such comments are not. However, well founded,
since it was mere accident, or matter OF con
yenence that established the conferences and
the tribunal at The Hague instead of at Geneva,
Brussels or elsewhere, and since the Dutch,
desnite their somewhat phlegmatic temperament,
have on occasion never failed to show them
selves fighting race, Jealous of their honor
and resolute and persistent in conflict TO de
gree surpassed by no other people That on the
present occasion they have ample proyocatlon
to deal strenuously with the Venezuelan dc
tator will hardly be disputed.
The question of American interest in the
case on the ground of the Monroe Doctrine IS
also raised. but will probably not be in the least
embarrassing The Monroe Doctrine has not
been interpreted forbidding European na-
tions 10 seek satisfaction for actual grievances
so long as they do not make territorial acquisl-
tions or interfere with the political indepen-
dence of the states concerned. 1t VIII be recailcd
that when the British, French and Spanish
governments united TO seek redress Of griev-
formally declared that it did not question the
right of those powers TO decide for themselves
whether they had sustained grievances and TO
resort TO war and 10 levy war against Mexico
for the redress thereof. provided that they did
not seek acquisition of territory or exclusive
privileges or to exercise liz Mexican affairs any
influence which would impair the right of the
Mexican people to choose and freely TO consti-
tute their own form of government 1t was only
when the other powers having withdrawn. this
proviso was violated by France that the prin-
cipIe of the Monroe Doctrine was made opera
tive and effective Again, in the case of Ger
many and Venezuela in 1871, our government
declared that il would wish TO know the causes
of Ger1nany's complaint and the object and
means which were proposed, and the limits
which would ne prescribed to German opera
TONS but that if Germany had just cause OF
war against Venezuela the United States could
interpose no objection to her resorting thereto
Again. in 1902 Germany in pressing claims
against Venezuela said I'VE consider it OF
''irnportance TO let first of all the government
"of the United States know about our purposes,
80 that we can pro We that we nave nothing else
''n view than TO help those OF our citizens who
have suffered damages, and We de-
"clare especially that under no circumstances
"do we consider in our proceedings the acquisi-
"tion or the permanent occupation OF Venez-
"ueian territory" To this Our government re-
Piled that the Monroe Doctrine has nothing to
30 with the commercial relations of any Amer
"ican power We do not guarantee any
"state against punishment If 1t misconducts IL
self provided that punishment does not take
1.-The form of acquisition of territory by any
'non-American power.
II is confidently TO be assumed that III what
ever measures it may take against Venezuela for
"a
viii first inform the United States government
OF it's purposes as Germany did six years ago,
making clear the suf1iciency OF its grounds for
action, and will scrupulously refrain from ac-
QUESTION permanent occupation OF Venez-
uelaa territory, and from exercising any exciu-