The state herald., 1916-06-02

railway. for instance. had been built
In Venezuela at the request Of Ven-
ezuela by German capital at cost OF
$20.000.000. Venezuela had guaran-
teed the interest on that $20,000,0 900.
1t was not paying 1t. When pressed,
It added q moral delinquency to its
financial delinquency. II not only re-
fused to pay. but 1t refused to enter
into any effective plan looking toward
payment. Germany had good case
and Venezuela had very poor ore.
At last, on December 8, 1902. Ger.
many broke of diplomatic relations
with Venezuela, and so did Great
Britain. Already the fleets Of Ger
many and of Great Britain, and also
Of Italy. had established blockade In
Venezuelan waters. Certain war yes
sells belonging to Venezuela were cap
tured and the town Of Puerto Cabello
was bOmbarded.
Roosevelt did not attempt to make
the United States take a public pose
az sovereign" of the Caribbean. He
launched no public "fat." His inter.
moderate. II was moderate not only
In its rhetoric but also In its essence.
In his message Of December 3. 1901,
glancing At the Venezuelan dispute,
he said: I'VE do not guarantee any
state against punishment II II miscon-
ducts itself" Germany had every
reason to be pleased with this recog-
milton OF It's rights.
At the same time, In order that
there might be no Misunderstanding
OF the one vital part OF tho Monroe
Doctrine. Roosevelt added provided
the punishment does not take the form
Of the acquisition Of territory by any
non-Amerlean power"
AT first II seemed that Germany was
content to abide by this proviso. On
December IL. 1901. the German am
bassador at Washington stated that
his government had mo purpose or
Intention to make even the smallest
acquisition Of territory on the South
American continent or the islands ad-
jacent." II later appeared. however
that acquisition" in this statement
meant permanent acquisition Ger.
many would make no acquisition that
was permanent. II did not consider it
self bound to make no acquisition that
was temporary. In fact, II was look
ing forward to such an acquisition.
Roosevelt at once objected. He re
called the fact that in China there
were many temporary" acquisitions
Of territory by foreign powers and
that in all such cases the word ITEM.
porary" seemed to mean while time
lasts" Notes ensued. They contin-
ued to ensue. They threatened &c
keep Washington reading and writing
till the Germans had landed on Ven
ezuelan soil. Roosevelt laid down his
pen and sent for the German lmbas
sador and determined to get the mat
ter settled personally without one
word more Oh paper
Roosevelt told Won Holeben, the
German ambassador. that he wanteG
assurances" He told him that
Dewey was maneuvering in the Garth
bean; that the assurances" IN question
would be expected TO arrive from Be7
lin within ten days: that II they di
not arrive Dewey would be ordered {
sail southward and TO see that no po-
session. even temporary. was taken o
any place In Venezuela" Won HOLE
ben replied that his government woult
ItluNt W EANF INC
States the assurance" requested.
A week later Won Holleben vlsite
tho White House to speak OF anothc
matter. He spoke OF IT and turned Il
leave. Roosevelt: Have you hearo
anything from Berlin about veno
zuela?" Won Hollebcn: No" Roose
velt: 1T will not be necessary ther
for me to wait through all the r.
naming three days. ! will walt jus
twenty.four hours more. Twenty
four hours from now Dewey will sail
Al the end OF twelve hours Won Hol.
leben returned to the White House
and said that he had heard from Ber
lin and that he now had the honor
to request the President OF the Unitec
States to act as arbitrator In the set
uement OF the differences which had
unfortunately arisen between tho Ger
man government and the government
Of Venezuela.
The point is not that German,
capitulated. Its position was unten
able. and II could not avoid capitulat
ing. The point Is that one OF the most
dangerous and one Of the most de
cisive moments In the history OF the
iutcIuatoHuI ieihtloHh VI tue iulttu
States passed by without one public
act or one public word to open the
slightest rift In the cordial popular
friendship between the United Slater
and the foreign nation concerned.
"Four Lessons to Europe"
II turned out. after ALL that Roose.
volt did not do the arbitrating be.
tween Germany and Venezuela. The
Hague Court was In existence. II
needed business. Roosevelt had al.
ready given II It's first case. That
was . dispute between the United
States and Mexico In the year 1909
over "The Pious Fund OF the Cali.
fornias." II amounted to n claim
against Mexico by certain American
Roman Catholic bishops. The Hague
Court decided that Mexico was to
pay those bishops an Immediate lump
sun Of 81 100000 and n future annual
sum OF $4,000. Mexican money.
Roosevelt now give The Hague
Court the Venezuelan dispute. In so do
Ing. he won a special word OF praise
from the most distinguished OF French
Pacifsts. Baron d'Estourneiies dc
Constant. who. n few years later, In
III