Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DEC. 18,1902. Little Venice.

Manawatu Herald, 18 December 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DEC. 18,1902. Little Venice.

Just now a small people, inhabiting a large country are creating a wonderful disturbance. In the attitude taken by the President of Venezuela we have a picture of impudence, insulting the Powers of Great Britain, Germany and Italy. This Republic is situated on the north of South America and is a remnant of the days of Spain's greatness, like the whole of South America presents. After Spain lost the proper control of the very mixed inhabitants her distant possessions were peopled with, chaos seems to have occurred, and to day, in a territory of over half a million of square miles, there is only a population of two millions of whom 826,000 are Indians, and 85,000 foreigners. The people are mostly half-breeda. Columbus, in 1498 visited the coasts of this country and * having seen an Indian village built on piles, promptly gave it the name of Venezuela, or Little Venice. The danger in ail these South American disputes is not the demanding and obtaining recognition of rights, but the danger of something, in the confusion, leading to a dispute amongst the great Powers. The press of the United States fear that their country may get entangled with the foreign Powers, as well as fearing that the Powers may be hurried further than they intended to go. To save the situation the cables announce that Great Britain has verbally, and Germany in writing, agreed not to seize, or to permanently occupy territory in lieu of indemnity, though Germany is talking of the occupation of Caracas, the capital, to retrieve her offended dignity. The republic lying within the Tropics, composed of descendants of the mixture between members of European nationalities and the Indians, could not be expected to possess much energy to develope the trade and resources of the country, and most of the over-sea trade is in the hands of foreigners, mostly Germans. When at peace with the outside world, the Venezuelans enjoy having a * scrap * with one another, and as omelettes cannot be made without breaking eggs, so minor revolutions cannot be enjoyed without some one being hurt, and it is for the past damages to foreigners, property that the trouble with Great Britain and Germany has arisen. The last rebellion has not yet been settled, though the President lately announced that it had, and he apparently hopes that a quarrel with outsiders will lead to unanimity within. The ‘army’ numbers 7280,

when they are all on one side, and then the President has the militia to call up. The force does not look very threatening, and the offer of appointments in the army to officers who ■were but a very short time ago fighting against the army, points to there being but small reserves to fall back upon.