A VENEZUELA INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1917, Page 5

A VENEZUELA INCIDENT.

STOiRY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRISIS. [The following is the conclusion of a speech delivered by Theodore Roosevelt 'before the Union League Club of New York, and interesting for its revelation of an international crisis.] When I was President it became necessary to deal with Germany over the Venezuela business. (Applause). The facts liave been published, and there is no reason why I should not apeak of them, it was while John Hay was Secretary of War. The story came out in connection with his papers after his doavh. England was endeavoring to placate Germany. She Was not successful, but she was quite as successful as we will be if we permanently adopt the eame policy. England was trying vo placate Germany by tagging after her. In Venezuela Mr. Cfestro was running a zigzag career, and had done a good many (toga that were nob nice (Laughter). Germany and England started in to discipline him. I was delighted that they should because I loathed having to do it myself, if for no other reason than for the fact that it would have meant a fifteen years' debate, and o proposal to say them an indemnity Inter on. (Laughter I. So I was delighted to see England and Germany undertake the job, but I soon became convinced that Germany did not intend just to discipline Qastroj that she intended to take possession of some point of territory in Venezuela, fortify it and hold it so as to control the approach to the Isthmian Canal. That I did not think me could afford to permit. After a wfcile I sounded out England, and found that England was uncomfortable in the alliance, and would certainly not fight us—that she would be neutral, which was all I wanted; at that time we could handle things by ourselves. Then, before seeing the German Ambassador, I took all our fleet, every battleship and every destroyer, and put it in the West Indies. under Dewey—to manoeuvrejust friendly manoeuvres. (Laughter). Then I saw the German Ambassador, and said that I must have a promise from Germany to arbitrate the matter. He said he was very sorry, that they could not give it; but that he would assure me they would only tako "temporary possession" of any port. I said they had only taken temporary posses-, »ion of Kiau-chau; temporary possession on a ninety-nlne-year lease, and had made it one of the strongest points in the whole Far East, and that we could not have another Kiau-chau in Venezuela. He said he was very sorry, but his Government could not arbitrate. I said "All right"; he would tell hi 9 people that in ten days from that date Admiral Davvey would receive orders to sail down and see that they did not take possession, even temporarily, of a foot of soil. He Chen aid, "This means—l do not like to say what it means." I said, «Como now, Mr. Ambassador, we are alone. Do you think it means «jwt Vou look at the map. You have selected the one place in the globe that you cannot fight us"- J poi»ting out tb * P oßit " m of the Caribbean Sea. Whereas now we can go to war with Germany with immuiity under the protection of the (British Fleet; at that time the British Fleet would have been neutral, but our fleet was then competent to handle the situation by itself, unlike the case now. The Ambassador said he was very sorry, toit he knew that bis Governmeat would not arbitrate. One week later he came back and ahatted about various matters. When lie toss, I said, in substance, "Well, Mr. 'Ambassador, you have not spoken about the VeneaeuW business. Has your Government paid no heed to my request?" He said, ''Oh, but of course, Mr. President, you cannot expect the Government to pay heed to the request." I said, "All right; then will you just tell them that there is no use wasting the remaining three days? Dewey wi?. *wi in forty-eight houts." (Applause). Well, he was most sad, afiiough I tfefek as t■ matter of fact that he had in his possession at that time the directions which enabled him to baok down, but he was playing it to the limit. At any rate, som« eighteen hours before the time for Dewey to sail the Ambassador turned up, smiling sentpblcally, witt <*• request that I arbitrate. By tie way, Dewsy rejsted his part in the affair, ant «h* only point of difference betwMft Oawey'a remembrance and mine was that I thought I told him to be ready to sail at an hour's notice, and a« agfai it 2» % «&«*& *»&*■-