Venezuela.

Manawatu Herald, 16 December 1902, Page 2

Venezuela.

RESCUE OF GERMAN AND BRITISH RESIDENTS.

President Castro, in an insolent manifesto, alleges,that all the Venezulean States are rallying in defence of the country. ■ ■ : Three of the captured Venezuelan ships have been sunk. The fourth, it is claimed, belongs to France. One hundred and thirty German sailors landed at La Guayra and rescued three English directors of the Harbour Company. A British detachment landed and removed the Vice-Consul (Mr R. Sclumck) and his family.

All the British and German residents, who were arrested at La Guayra, have been liberated. Two thousand troops, under the Minister of War, have arrived at the port. President Castro ia sending other reinforcements. The American newspapers are very hostile in their attitude towards President Castro. matists in Washington consider that the arrest of the British and

German subjects after they had been placed under American protection is equivalent to an act of war.

The German newspapers rejoice at the solidarity of the allies in enforcing treaty right s.

TWO OP THE CAPTURED VESSELS SUNK.

In the House of Commons, Lord Cranborne, Financial Secretary to the Foreign Office, stated that the German commodore had sunk his two Venezuelan prizes. FEELING IN AMERICA.

-Mr Cullom, chairman of the Foreign Committee of the Senate, thinks the attacks on “helpless Venezuela ” wrong, and fears that General Castro will create a situation entangling to the United States with foregn Powers. The “New York Times” and “ Tribune ” do not protest against the use of force, for fearing that moving events might hurry the Powers into going further than announced. /

The intention of sinking Venezuelan warships has created a bad impression in America. There is a general disposition to attribute the punitive character of the proceedings to Germany,

EXCITEMENT AT THE CAPITAL.

The Venezuelans have imprisoned the British and German consuls at Porto-Oabello. All adults have been summoned to the army. General Castro is offering important commands to rebel leaders. The populace at La Guayra and Caracas is extremely excited, and is arming. Advices state that five thousand troops and fifty guns were expected at La Guayra.

TWO MORE'VESSELS CAPTURED.

The British war sloop Alert has captured the Venezuelan troopships Tamova and a coastguard vessel, and has conveyed them to Port of Spain releasing the crews.

The Venezuelans have seized a British steamer, which was discharging coal at Porto-Cabello.

Mr Shadforth has given notice to move in the House of Represetatives that President Roosevelt be authorised to propose arbitration in the Venezuelan trouble. PREPARING FOR WAR.

The Italian cruiser Carlo Alberto, 6500 tons, 42 guns, and the American gunboat Marietta, 1600 tons, 14 guns, have been ordered to La Guayra.

Women are filling sandbags for the defence of La Guayra. General Ferrer, Minister of War has posted troops and 18 guns on the heights behind La Guayra. Major-General Castro, the President’s brother, is bringing 1000 men, all Venezuelans, armed with Mausers.

The remainder of the British and German prisoners have been released.

Reuter’s Agency reports that President Castro has asked the American Minister in Venezuela (Mr H. W. Bowen) to act as arbitrator between Venezuela and England and Germany. St. James’s Gazette ” trusts that Britain will not allow herself to become entangled with Venezuela, but will restrict her action to the enforcement of her actual claims.

Germany is talking of the occupation of Caracas to retrieve her offended dignity. THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS.

Mr John Hay, Secretary of State replying to President Castro’s proposal to Mr Bowen, authorises the latter in his discretion to use his good offices in the interests of peace, but he adds that whatever it done in the matter Mr Bowen will represent, not the United States, but Venezuela, at the requests of Venezuelans.

Official circles in Berlin affirm that if the Venezuelan prizes were really destroyed, it was due to their unseaworthiness or for military reasons. The fleets were originally ordered to seize revenue cutters before the blockade.

General Ferrer is retrenching his position. The “ Standard ” says that after President Castro’s scornful treatment of the reasonable demands of the Powers, arbitration cannot be substituted for a definite settlement. Lord Lansdowne, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking at the United Service Club’s dinner in London, said with reference to Venezuela, these little ebullitions were not without their advantage. He was glad to see the British and German sailors unitedly enforcing just demands. THE RIGHTS OF THE POWERS

Americans assert that Germany sank the prizes to prevent the necessity of removing them to British porta. A member of President Roosevelt’s Government has admitted that the Powers have the right to seize the Customs, blockade the ports, and

land troops to occupy the capital, without infringing the Monroe Doctrine.

Germany, in writing, and Great Britain, verbally, have agreed not to seize, or to permanenty occupy, territory in lieu of indemnity.