New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
German Venezuela

German propaganda has been nowhere
more active than in South America. If
IN many cases it has failed to accomplish
its purpose, in others it remains a peril
which should not be ignored The way
1T has worked in one country is vividlv
described in LA Joven Venezuela"
C1oung Nenezuela"D, the organ of
political society of Venezuelans, with
headquarters in New York, which is
working for the overthrow of the pres
ent government. 1t is true, of course,
that the opinions of political exiles are
usually to be accepted with caution. and
it may be that the account given Of the
"crimes' of Juan Vicente Gomez Presi
dent of Venezuela, is somewhat exag
gerated The South Americans use BIT
ter language when they quarrel. If Co
mez is "usurper, so many other South
American presidents have been from a
strictly legal point of view Doubtless
Gomez has had small regard for law or
justice in dealing with his political enc
mics. But the charge that he is a Ger
manophile is supported by evidence too
explicit to be questioned. Some of it. of
course, is not new. The acts OF German
ships in Venezuelan waters at the varv
beginning of the war gave rise to pro-
tests on the part both Of England and of
France, which the government at Caracas
disregarded.
This happened in the case of other
neutrals. 1t is not a matter of great
Importance. What should concern us
now is the persistence of pro-German
sentiment in the government of a coun-
try which is q near neighbor. 1t is need
less to point out that Venezuela like
Mexico, is in a position to give aid and
comfort to the enemy in various ways-
IN the matter Of a submarine iase. for
instance. LA Joven Venezuela" would
have us believe that pro-Ally sentiment
is strong among the people, but that it
has been sternly repressed by Gomez:
At the present moment there is not in
the whole length and breadth of Venez-
uela single pro-Allied newspaper. The
hostile hand of Gomez, guided by the
malevolent spirit of Herr Won Prolius.
the German Minister, has suppressed the
voices of the friends of the United
States, Of France and England"
Two newspapers of Ciudad Bolivar.
La lgualdad" and "El Luchador," were
suspended because they had the audac
ity to publish articles not to the liking
Of Herr Won Prolius," and the propre
tors of one at Caracas, GEL Fonografo,"
are nov engaged in purging their souls
OF the love Of freedom at the bottom of
horrible dungeons" Meanwhile pro Ger
man organs are distributed free all over
the country ''to incite the people against
the United States and to disseminate the
milltarlstic theories of Prussia"
Thus bad begins, but worse remains
behind. There is little the United States
can do to check German propaganda in
another country when it is promoted bv
the government of that country. Nor is
the fact that Venezuela has become nm
der Gomez "a feudal baronv," strjctlv
speaking, our affair A more serious
danger for US exists in the rumor that
Margarita Island, five hundred miles
from the Panama Canal, may be cedcd
to Germany. 1t is not new rumor. but
It's repetition by "I.a Joven Venezuela"
gives 1T fresh point. OF more immediate
concern is the possible establishment of
photographic stations for communication
with Germany. If Gomez could be over.
thrown, as the pro-German President Of
costa Rlca was overthrown. we might
md IN Venezuela a friend, even an allv.
and not an enemy. In that case would
the Administration refuse to recognize :;
revolutionary government" as it has
perslstently done in the case of Costa