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Show HDWRQDSEVELT DEALTWITH THE KAISERJN 1902 Former President Revives Story of Occupation of Venezuela by Teutons 15 Years Ago. HUNS WITHIN THE GATES DENOUNCED Colonel Delivers a Speech at Racine, Wisconsin; Scores La Follette, Stone and McLemore. CHICAGO. Sept. 27 Colonel Roosevslt today gave his own version of the secret conferences he held with the German ambassador am-bassador in 1! relating lo the occupation occupa-tion of Venezuela hy Germany, an Incident Inci-dent that then threatened to bring on a war between Germany and Ihe United Slates. Colonel Roosevelt told the story for the first time, he said, in an address at a luncheon. "II was about a year after I took office." of-fice." Colonel Roosevelt began. "Germany "Ger-many was then engaged as she had been for years In striving to extend her dominion all over the world. She had in view certain chosen positions in South America. That was why Germany was the strongest foe of the Monroe doctrine. She aimed to turn South America Into a German appendage. Venezuela at tiiat time had a dictator named Castro, commonly com-monly known as the 'Monkey of the Aiidee.' 1 "1 was determined that Venezuela should not become a German possession. Germany said it was not to be permanent perma-nent End dlrl not define what was meant by petmanency. I permitted John Hay to write a number of notes and then decided to handle the matter myself. 1 sent for the German ambassador and said to him: Calls a Halt. This Venezuela business has been on long enough and I cannot afford to let it get to the point where it will cause trouble for this country.' "At that time England was backing Germany and. while I had both against me, I paid little attention to England, but kept my eye on Germany. It was ths last flicker of England's antagonism to the I'nited States. "I called the attention of the ambassador ambassa-dor to the fact that Germariy .nad a squadron of warships near Venezuela, tin c;i tt.ning the mouth of the proposed Isthmian canal. I demanded a statement state-ment of wdiat Germany meant by' temporary tem-porary possession, saying I did not propose pro-pose to have any ninety-nine year leasts. "The ambassador tokV me he did not feel he was at liberty to discuss such an important question. That conference wound up with the following ultimatum: Gave Them Ten Days. " 'Tell your government that In ten days It must arbitrate the matter or I will send Dewey clown there." Thirty days before I had ordered Dewey to take our fleet into West Indian waters juyt fo:- a friendly cruise, you know. " 'I cannot send such a message, Mr. President. I do not- think you realize what it means," the ambassador replied. " 'You think It means war?' I asked. " 'I do not want to say what I think," was the'replj'. '' 'If it means war, you have chosen the one spot where you cannot fight 1:3 1 replied, .and then I showed by maps our cemmanding- position. "When he retired I sent word to Dewey to be ready to sail on an hour's notioe. Abcut a week later the a mbassador called on me and talked about the weather and tennis, and when I asked about the Venezuelan answer he admitted admit-ted that he had not dared send the message. mes-sage. "I then told him that Instead of allowing allow-ing three days that remained for mi answer I would order Deve3r to sail in forty-efpht hours. He told me it would be an awful thing for this country. " 'Yes, but it will he more awful for your country,' I replied. "Inside of thirty-six hours he came back smiling and said he had received i instructions from the German govern-ment govern-ment that it would arbitrate. ' |