New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-28
Threat to Send Dewey to
Meet German Fleet Saved
South America
Berlin Had Planned
To Rule Continent
Forty-eight Hours Notice
From u. S. Brought Agree
ment to Arbitrate

CHICAGO, Sept. 27.-Colonel Roose-
welt to-day gave mis- version of the
secret conferences he held with the
German Ambassador in 1902 relating to
the occupation Of Venezuela by Ger
many. all incident that then threatened
TO bring on war between Germany and
the United States. Colonel Roosevelt
told IN. story, for the first time, he
said, in an address at luncheon nere,
given by the National Security League.
at IVES about year after | took
Office Colonel Roosevelt began; Ger
many was striving to extend her do
minioa. She had in view certain chosen
positions in South America. She aimed
TO turn South America into a German
appendage. Venezuela at that time had
n dictator named Castro, commonly
known as the Monkey of the Andes
Il was determined tina. Venezuela
should not become German posses
sion. Germany said it was not to be
permanent and did not define what was
meant by permanercy. | permitted
John Hay 70 write number Of notes
and then I sent for the German Ambas-
yador and said TO him:
"'This Venezuela business has been
going on long enough, and ! cannot az
ford TO let it get TO the point where it
will cause trouble for this country
England Backed Germany
AT that time England was backing
Germany, and, while ! had both against
me, | paid little attention to England.
II was the last flicker of England's an
tagonism 70 the United States.
II called the attention Of the Ambas-
sador 70 the fact that Germany had
SQUADRON Of warships near Venezuela,
threatening the mouth Of the proposed
Isthmian canal. I demanded state
ment of what Germany meant by tenn
porary possession, saying did not pro-
nose to have any ninety-nine year
leases.
"The ambassador told me he did not
feel that he was at libery to discuss
such an important question. That con-
ference wound UP with the following
ultimatum:
TELL your government in ten days II
must arbitrate the matter or | VIII
send Dewey down there.
81 cannot send such message Mr..
President. I do not think you realize
what it means tho ambassador replied.
Dewey Ordered To Be Ready
".You think it means war" | asked.
"I do not want to say what | think
was the reply.
"If il means war, you have chosen
the one spot where you cannot fight
u.s. replied, and showed by maps our
commanding position.
when he retired | sent word to
Dewey to be ready to sail on an hours
notice. About a week later the ambas-
sador called on me and admitted that
he had not dared send the message.
81 then told him that | would order
Dewey to sail in forty-eight hours. He
told me IL would be an awful thing for
this country.
eyes. but it will be more awful for
your country | replied.
Inside of thirty-six hours he came
back smiling and said he had received
instructions from the German govern
ment that they would arbitrate.
Later, when the matter was referred
TO some pacitist or pro-German-and
the terms are interchangeable said
the story was lie, and wrote to Dewey
about it. Dewey replied that instead of
telling him TO be ready on an hours
notice I told him to be ready on a min
q. - ~