The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-13
WHY CREsPO WAS INDIGNANT,
French and Belgian Representatives Had
Criticised His Country.

WASHINGTON. March 12.-The action
of the French Government in presenting
his passports TO Dr. }. Gil Fortoul. the
Venezuelan Charge dAnaires at Paris,
f. Tive courlUtfng chapter in hit or M
tcresting diplomatic history.
TWO years ago, in OCTOBER, Geherai
Crespo, who had headed a successful
revolution in Venezuela, entered the city
of Caracas and was AT once made PreSi-
dent of the Republic Within few days
after his successful entry. and while the
domestic affairs of the country were uh-
settle /, a conference was held consisting
of the French. Belgian. Spanish ana GER
man ministers, to decide what acton
they should take regarding the damages
which the citizens OF their several coun-
tries had received az result OF the reVo-
luton. The Italian Minister was asked 10
he present, but declined to attend Inc
conference was secret. 1t was decided
that as the representatives. OF
the foregoing couatries, ,hey should
call upon the President OF the
new Republic, General Crespo,
to submit the claims of their citizens to
an International commission. This con-
clusion was not IL keeping with the Nche1
zuelan law, which recognizes the senerai
principles of international law thal
country shall not be responsible Tor losses
sustained by foreigners residing Wltulh
its boundaries which have resulted from
revolution. The minutes OF the conier
ence showed that the diplomatic quar-
tette which composed IL had indulged III
strong criticism of Venezuela, ana that
their structures upon the domestic ahu
foreign policy of the Government were
very severe. A copy of the proceedings
was furnished to the Italian Minister, VINO
at once forwarded Il TO Rome MtaH1
while General Crespo, after order nad
been restored, took up the claims OF tne
citizens of these countries ana promptly
adiudicated them. He knew, IL Is sac,
nothing of the diplomatic conference, Oh
its conclusions, or OF It's sharp cIllIcls,ln
result of a sincere desire TO indemnify
the foreigners in Venezuela for the losses
suffered by them and TO express h.s
friendly interest IN the soNeIiIiiv,,' a., -,
which they represented. In January iasl
the minutes Of the conference ABOVE re-
fsrred TO were published IN the ltaphIl
green book. \ copy OF the pooh .s'S nas
forwarded to Caracas. ffesluehl CIe'pV
u,as indignant at the comments made q J.
thn conterenca. and he Immediately, or
dered that The French and Belgian MI " :
t"ts,s who were the only Two OF the
original uuartette then residing III teiio-
o,,sia sb ,Ild be civ n their passports:
ItSSiissnatches contain the Information that
a French mau-of-war has been .uereu ti95'
IN Ia Guayra to receive the fIcli'" 'i'''
ister N. kipert MontclaiIs. o,aoancls
The Belgian Minister, Mr.. LH,, LeNeHs'iieGi i',i :
Iii donbtiess accompany his Flehch cOI-
Ieae,ie The French Goyernment, IN re-
taiiatIon for the dismissal OF Moltelalr
on saturday last. sent Or. Fourtoul Hi'
pdD9TP Dr Fourtoul is also the Venezueian
,.o,(rcsaptstive 10 Switzerland. lie Is
now AT Berne, wither he was called some If
time ago TO represent the interests Of
Venezuela in claim for % damages rsShin MciGii ~
srbitrating. He will probably remain at
ReTne until the diplomatic relations De
tween France and Venezuela have peen
restored How long the entente cordlate
viii remain disturbed is a question which
no one at this point can satisfactorily
answer. Dismissal OF the diplomatic rep
resentatives from the two countries cannot
resuit i'm war or trouble of a serious
natnre inasmuch as all governments
reserve the right TO rid themselves OF the
diplomatic representatives OF other gov
ernments who are persona non grata.