American Barbarism, Chinese Hos- The History of the Week. Books of the Week. Reviews The Outlook is a Weekly Newspaper and an Illustrated Monthly Magazine in one. It is published every Saturday-fifty-two issues a year. The first issue in each month is an Illustrated Magazine Number, containing about twice as many pages as the regular weekly issue, and many pictures. Price. The subscription price is Three Dollars a year, payable in advance. Ten cents a copy. Postage is Prepaid by the publishers for all subscriptions in the United States, Hawaiian Islands, Philippine Islands, Guam, Porto Rico, Tutuila Samoa, Canada, and Mexico. For all other countries in the Postal Union add $1.56 for postage. Change of Address.—When a change of address is ordered, both the new and the old address must be given. The notice should be sent one week before the change is to take effect. Discontinuances.-If a subscriber wishes his copy of the paper discontinued at the expiration of his subscription, notice to that effect should be sent. Otherwise it is assumed that a continuance of the subscription is desired. How to Remit.-Remittances should be sent by Draft on New York, Express-Order, or Money-Order, payable to order of THE OUTLOOK COMPANY. Cash should be sent in Registered Letter. Letters should be addressed: THE OUTLOOK COMPANY 287 Fourth Avenue, New York Copyright, 1901, by The Outlook Company. Entered as second-class matter in the New York Post-Office. Vol. 72 The Venezuelan Question Published Weekly December 27, 1902 In another place in this issue of The Outlook we discuss the principles of international law and public policy involved in the dispute between Venezuela and the three European Powers-for during the week Italy formally added her claims to those of Great Britain and Germany, and even France has given notice that the claims of her citizens must not be disregarded. Throughout last week the prospect for arbitration seemed to grow brighter, and it is considered probable that a pacific settlement may be reached. Secretary Hay received tentative replies from the three Powers. These showed an inclination toward arbitration, but raised many difficulities; Great Britain laid special emphasis on the desirability of definite guarantees for Venezuela's compliance with an adverse award; Germany declared that not only payment but apologies were requisite. As regards the former point it may be said that in case of recalcitrant conduct by Venezuelå after an award, the Powers would have the same power, of using force that they have now, and would have the world's sentiment and the arbitration's decision behind them; resistance under such circumstances would be quite unlikely; that the United States should undertake to guarantee payment by Ven No. 17 ezuela is altogether out of the question, for to do so would admit a responsibility for all acts of all South American countries, entirely beyond and outside the principles of international law. As to the apologies asked for by Germany, we have still to learn the exact acts of outrage for which these apologies are asked, but in view of what seems to be the wanton destruction by Germany of Venezuelan vessels and in view of the allies' destruction of the forts of Puerto Cabello on rather slight provocation, it is to be hoped that this demand may not prevent arbitration. Early last week the situation was cleared a good deal by Mr. Balfour's frank statement in Parliament that the acts of the allies really constituted war; this at least put an end to the knotty questions supposed to be connected with the so-called and anomalous "peace blockade." Under a regular blockade the rights of the United States are exactly those of other neutral nations. On Saturday Great Britain issued a formal notice of a blockade of five Venezuelan ports to begin on that day, but with a liberal allowance of "days of grace" for vessels already at sea. Mr. Bowen, our Minister to Caracas, has received full powers from President Castro to represent Venezuela in the settlement of the present difficulty; if our Government CARIBBEAN SEA Maracaibo VENE ZUELA THE COAST OF VENEZUELA |