Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1917-09-28
COLONEL Tells
OF GERMAN PLOT
IN VENEZUELA
For the First Time Ex Presi-
dent Roosevelt Relates In
cident That Threatened
War With Teutons In 1902.
(By Review Leased Wire.)

CHICAGO, Sept. 27.-Colonel Roose.
welt today his version of the secret
conferences he held with the German
ambassador in 1902 relating to the
occupation of Venezuela by Germany,
an incident that then threatened to
bring on war between Germany and
the United States. Coloney Roosevelt
told the story for the first time, he
said, in an address at a luncheon.
1T was about year after | took
office Colonel Roosevelt began.
Germany was engaged, as she has
been for years. in striving to extend
her dominion all over the world. She
had in view certain chosen positions
in South America. Germany was the
strongest foe of the Monroe Doctrine.
She aimed to turn South America in
to German appendage. Venezuela
had a dictator named Castro, common
ly known as the monkey of the An
des.'
Sends for Ambassador.
81 was determined Venezuela should
not became a German possession.
Germany said it was not to be perm
anent and did not define what was
meant by permanency. l permitted
John Hay to write number OF notes
and then decided to handle the matter
myself l sent for the German am
bassador and said:
"'This Venezuela business has been
going on long enough. l cannot af-
ford to let it get to the point where
it will cause trouble for this country
England Basks Germany.
AT that time England was backing
Germany. 1t was the last flicker of
England's antagonism to the United
States.
81 called the attention of the ambas-
sador to the fact that Germany had
a squadron of warships, threatening
the mouth of the proposed Isthmian
canal. | demanded a statement of
what Germany meant by temporary
possession, saying l did not propose
to have any SO year leases.
The UItimatum.
''The ambassador told me he did
not feel he was at liberty to discuss
such an important question. That
conference wound up with the follow
ing ultimatum:
"'Tell your government that in 10
days it must arbitrate the matter or
/ will send Dewey down there
Thirty days before l had ordered
Dewey to take our fleet into West In
dian waters, just for friendly cruise,
you know.
Message Not Sent.
al cannot send such a message,
Mr. President. / do not think you
realize what it MEANS the ambassa-
dor replied.
"'You think it means war; / ask
ed.
"T do not want to say what I
think" was the reply.
"1f it means war, you have chosen
the one spot where you cannot fight
u.s. I replied. and showed by maps
our commanding position.
Word to Dewey.
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 When
/ asked about the Venezuelan answer.
he admitted he had not dared send the
message.
81 then told him that instead of al
lawing three days that remained for
an answer | would order Dewey to
sail in As hours. He told me 1t would
be an awful thing for this country.
Returns, Smiling.
Yes, but it will be more awful
for your country | replied.
Inside of SO hours he came back
smiling and said he had received in
structions from the German govern
-