Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-28
TEDDY TELLS OF
BLUFF|NG KAISER
Threat to Send Dewey After
German Fleet Saves Vene-
zuela From Seizure.
BRITAIN THEN WITH TEUT0NS
War Over Monroe Doctrine
Missed by Only Twelve
Hours in 1902.
BRITAIN THEN WITH TEUTONS

CHICAGO. Sept 27.-Colonel Roose-
welt today gave his own version offthe
secret conferences he held with the
German ambassador in 1902. relating
TO the occupation of Venezuela 10y Ger
many, an incident that then threat
ened TO bring on war between Ger
many and the United States, Colonel
Roosevelt told the story for the first
time, he said in an address at lunch
con.
at was about year after took
office" Colonel Roosevelt began.
Germany was then engaged as she
had been for years In striving to eX-
tend her dominion all over the world.
She had In view certain chosen posi-
tions In South America. That was
why Germany was the strongest foe
of the Monroe doctrine. She aimed
to turn South America into a German
appendage Venezuela at that time
had a dictator named Castro. COM
monty known as the monkey OF the
Andes
England Backing Germany
81 was determined that Venezuela
should not become n German poses
sion. | permitted John Hay to write
a number of notes and then decided
to handle the matter myself. | sent
for the German ambassador and said
to him:
This Venezuela matter has been
going on long enough and | cannot
afford to let II get to the point where
1t will make trouble for this country
AT that time England was back
ing Germany and while ] had both
against me, | paid little attention to
England, but kept my eye on Germany
1t was the flicker of England's an
tagonism to the United States
Il called the attention of the am
bassador to the fact that Germany had
a squadron of warships near Venezuela
threatening the mouth of the proposed
Isthmian canal / demanded state
ment Of what Germany meant by
temporary possession, saying did not
propose to have any 99-year leases.
Issues Ultimatum.
"The ambassador told me he was
not at liberty to discuss such an i'm
portant question. That conference
wound up with the following ulti-
matum
"'Tell your government that in ten
days II must abitrate the matter or
| will send Dewey down there
Thirty days before / had ordered
Dewey to take our fleet into West
Indian waters, just for friendly
cruise, you know.
"I cannot send such a message.
Mr.. President | do not think you
realize what it means the ambassador
, replied.
"'You think it means war; |
asked
81 do not want to say what think,
was the replay.
| If IL means war you have chosen
the one spot where you cannot fight
u.s. | replied, and then | showed by
maps our commanding position.
when he retired | sent word to
| Dewey to be ready to sail on an hours
notice. About week later the am
bassador called on me and talked
| about the weather and tennis and
when asked about the Venezuela
matter he admitted that he had not
dared to send the message.
II then told him that instead of al
lowing the three days that remained
for an answer | would order Dewey
to sail in As hours. lie told me 1t
would be an awful thing for this
country.
Eyes. but it will he more awful
| for your country" / replied
Inside of 36 hours he came back
smiling and said he had received in
structions from the German govern
| ment that they would arbitrate.'