Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1902 — STATE OF WAR EXISTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STATE OF WAR EXISTS.

This Is Balfour's Statement in the House of Commons. In the House of Commons Wednesday Premier Balfour said there was no such thing as n "pacific blockade.” A state

of war actually existed with Venezuela. he declared. Mr. Balfour added that the blockade would be carried out with as little inconvenience to neutrals as possible. The premier also said the operations were reluctantly undertaken, not to recover debits, but after a long and patient delay to recover compensation for ns“saults cm British subjects and the

seizure of British vessels. “The blockade will be carried out by Great Britain and Germany along different parts of the coast,” said the premier, "and though the two fleets will have the same objects they will not act as one force. We never had any intention of landing troops in Venezuela or of occupying territory even temporarily. We do not think it desirable on either military or other grounds. All the conditions governing such a blockade have been considered carefully and will be published in due time for the information of neutrals. The government is most anxious that these operations, the necessity for which we deeply regret, should be as little inconvenient to neutrals as they can possibly be made. No difftreiiee wlTl be made between the vessels of the various neutral powers.”

A. J. BALFOUR.