Venezuela.

Manawatu Herald, 13 December 1902, Page 2

Venezuela.

The foreign Legations, desTing to avoid public demonstrations, did not announce their departure from Caracas (the Venezuelan capital) to warships. The British and German ultimatums were served at the private

residence of Dr Baralt, Minister of Foreign Affairs. A blockade of Venezuelan ports is imminent.

A DEFIANT MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

The United States Minister at Caracas will protect British and German interests and subjects, and has undertaken informally to mediate if an opportunity is offered

General Castro, President of Venezuela, has published a statement virtually declaring that Venezuela’s creditors must wait until internal peace is restored. He is unable to accept humiliations which are offensive to Venezuelans.

The statement is regarded as defiant. PEREMPTORY DEMAND FOR PAYMMENT. SEIZURE OF FOUR WARSHIPS.

The captain of the Britieh warship Retribution sent an ultimatum to Caracas, allowing Venezuela forty-eight hours in which to pay 34,000 dollars (£6800) each to Britain and Germany in cash, agreeing to settle the other claims through the medium of a mixed tribunal.

Reuter’s Agency reports that all the British and German subjects in Caracas have been arrested, and that British and German naval commanders have seized four Yenezuelad warships at La Guayra, the port of Caracas.

BLOCKADE OF THE COAST,

The British cruiser Charybdis seized the Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar at the Port of Spain. The officers were detained, and the crew landed on the Venezuelan coast.

The torpedo-boat Quail has started from Trinidad to seize a vessel guarding Orinoco.

The British squadron is blockading the Venezuelan coast to La Gueyra and the German squadron from La Guayra to the Colombian border.

It is believed they have united to seize the Customhouses.

General Castro, President of Venezuela, has informed the British .and'German representatives that he deems the seizure of warships lying at the quays arbitrary and unprecepented, and calculated to raise the indignation of the Venezuelans to the highest pitch. As a justifiable reprisal, the Government has arrested ninety-seven Germans and all the British residents except two, and seized their railways. The Government has appealed to the Venezuelans to take up arms. Rolando Reira, a prominent leader of the late revolution in Venezuela, has rallied 2100 rebels with the object of a fresh attempt at revolution.

A large number of rebels are assembling in other parts.

DEMONSTRATION AT CARGAS

General Castro has granted an amnesty to all political offenders, and restored their confiscated property. There was a great patriotic demonstration at Caracas. The mob tried to break open the German Legation and Consulate, and burned the British and German flags.

The police did not attempt to repress hostile demonstrations. Intense excitement prevails, and the situation is regarded as critical. Mr H. W. Bowen, American Minister, has been released, also the principal British and German citizens. Mr Bowan is pressing for the release of the remainder.

The Venezuelan warships seized at La Guayra are vessels of no power, and they did not resist.