Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1902 — SEIZURE OF THE FLEET [ARTICLE]

SEIZURE OF THE FLEET

Bearing the Venezuelan Flag Fol* lows Quickly the AngloGerman Demands. CASTRO MAKES MATTERS WORSE By Arresting All the Britons and Germans He Can Find. United Staten Comes in Jut There— Castro Says H«t Never Heard of the British Claim Before. Caracas, Iu c. 9.—The British minleter, \V. H. D. Haggard, and the Geeman charge d’affaires, Von FilgrimBaltazzi, left Caracas at 3 p. in. yesterday for LaGuaira, where they went on hoard cruisers of their respective I countries, and both legations have been closed. London, Dec. 10. —A dispatch from Caracas, Venezuela, dated Dec. ft, says: “The combined British and German fleet today seized the Venezuelan fleet, composed of four warships, in | the harbor of La Guayra. It is ret ported also that an ultimatum will be delivered tomorrow asking for an answer and a compliance with the demand of the British and German mimisters.” Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 10.—All German and British subject in Caracas were arrested yesterday. Utilizes Uncle Sam’s Services.

Washington, Dec. 10.—The arrest* of the German and British subjects In Caracas yesterday are believed here tobe in the nature of a retaliation on tbe part of Fresident Castro for the ultimatum which has been sent to Venezuela. Incidentally such action by Venezuela will, it is believed, involve this government, as the German an<l British representatives in Venezuela before leaving Caracas requested United States Minister Bowen to take charge of the interests of their countries to. Venezuela. Arrests Maks the Matter Worse. It was said at the state department yesterday that this request would be granted, and the probability is that Bowen already has taken steps to wand that end. Considerable surprise is expressed here over the arrests, as tbe result will be to add to the serious coo plications already existing. Owing to the late hour at which tbe Caracas bulletin was received It was impossible to ascertain whether any information had been received by the state department from Bowen regarding the armrests. Senor I’ulido, the Venezuelan charge d’affaires, was also Inacceaat ble. PRESIDENT OABTHO INTERVIEWED He Say* John Hull'* Action I* Without J ustiflcation. Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 10.—President Castro received t he eorresiKmdeot of the Associated Press at Miraflores palace yesterday. In reply to questions the president of Venezuela salA: “The Venezuelan government has not received any ultimatum, property speaking, but rather simultaneous requests from Great Britain and Get* many. Tbe claims Great Britain asks this government to settle are* small, and up to the present time we have not been aware of them. Never having been presented Venezuela has consequeutly never refused to settle them. Great Britain’s action therefore Is without Justification. “The Venezuelan government cannot decide on foreign claims before tbe resolution lias been entirely crushed. Atpresent the only aim of the government is the re-establishment of public order, and other questions must necessarily be subservient to this object. Nevertheless, to prove Venezuela’s desire to settle all pending claims in ff conformable manner, tbe government Issued a decree during the last session of congress, dated Nov. 28, creating a committee to which all pending claims should be referred. “No claims have been presented to this committee and no claims have been rejected. There has been no denial of Justice; why, then, should foreign chancelorles intervene, thereby Ignoring our laws and endeavoring to violate our nutlonal sovereignty? We cannot understand this action." "What do you Intend to do in view j of the present attitude of the powers Y” ! vn* asked. “Enforce our rights," replied Preslj dent Castro, “and explain to the world that Venezuela has laws and prove that we never have denied our engagements.".