the year 1902 a pacific blockade
of the Venezuelan coast was maintained and in December of that year an
ultimatum demanding the immediate payment of the debts was presented.
When its terms were not complied with, diplomatic relations were broken
off and the Venezuelan fleet was seized. At this point the United States
entered upon the scene, but with no blare of trumpets.

In fact, what really happened was not generally known until several
years later.

In his message of December, 1901, President Roosevelt had made two
significant statements. Speaking of the Monroe Doctrine, he said, "We do
not guarantee any state against punishment, if it misconducts itself."
This was very satisfactory to Germany. But he added--"provided the
punishment does not take the form of the acquisition of territory by any
non-American power." This did not suit the German book so well. For a
year the matter was discussed. Germany disclaimed any intention to make
"permanent" acquisitions in Venezuela but contended for its right
to make "temporary" ones. Now the world had already seen "temporary"
acquisitions made in China, and it was a matter of common knowledge that
this convenient word was often to be interpreted in a Pickwickian sense.

When the "pacific blockade" passed into the stage of active hostilities,
the patience of Roosevelt snapped. The German Ambassador, von Holleben,
was summoned to the White House. The President proposed to him that
Germany should arbitrate its differences with Venezuela. Von Holleben
assured him that his "Imperial Master" would not hear of such a course.
The President persisted that there must be no taking possession, even
temporarily, of Venezuelan territory. He informed the Ambassador that
Admiral Dewey was at that moment maneuvering in Caribbean waters, and
that if satisfactory assurances did not come from Berlin in ten days,
he would be ordered to proceed to Venezuela to see that no territory was
seized by German forces. The Ambassador was firm in his conviction that
no assurances would be forthcoming.

A week later Von Holleben appeared at the White House to talk of
another matter and was about to leave without mentioning Venezuela. The
President stopped him with a question. No, said the Ambassador, no
word had come from Berlin. Then, Roosevelt explained, it would not
be necessary for him to wait the remaining three days. Dewey would be
instructed to sail a day earlier than originally planned. He added tha