Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
SENIOR PALACIO'S CASE
1t May Result IN s.4ssrhational COmplioa-
tiona Though TITS is Not Likely
The Observation-Disclosures Has Not Yet
Reported tassn.st~r to tn.
State department.

1t Is possible. btek 6et likely, that the ar
rest and fine of Senior Fombona Palacio. an
attache OF the Yehezuelan legation. re-
fcrred to in yesterdays Star, may result in
an international complication. inasmuch
as it is said that Senior Andrade. the Vene-
zuelan minister at this capital. Is deter
mined to make 1t the subject Of a strong
diplomatic protest to the State Depart
pent. Senior Palacio was arrested in New
York on charge of insulting ladies on the
street, and. despite his claim to exemption
because of his diplomatic status, was tried,
convicted and fined.
Minister Andrade is said to feel that the
dignity of his country has been lnsulted in
these proceedings. He ignores Senior Paia-
clio as an individual and, it Is said, looks
upon him in this case solely as an official
representing the majesty of a sovereign
state. OF course. this gives the case q
much more serious aspect. According 10
report, the minister holds that the tenets
of international law and custom have been
violated in the treatment of the Venezuelan
attache, and that it is case calling Tor
reputation and apology on the part OF the
United States government.
The Statute Bearing ON the Case.
Curiously enough. he appears to be sus-
tanned in his contention by strict con-
stfuction of the United States statutes
bearing on the case. These are sections
1893 and 1904 Of the Revised Statutes,
which provide as follows:
Whenever any writ or process Is sued
out or prosecuted by, any person in any
court of the United States, or of state,
or by any judge or justice. whereby the
person OF any public minister OF any Tor
ceived as such by the President. or any
domestic or domestic servant of any such
minister. Is arrested and imprisoned. or his
goods or chattels are distrained. seized or
deemed void.
Whenever any writ or process Is sued
out In violation Of the preceding section
every person by whom the same Is obtained
or prosecuted, whether as party or as at
torney or solicitor, and every officer con-
cerned in executing 1t shall be deemed a
violator of the laws Of nations and dis
turber Of the public repose, and shall be
and fined in the discretion. Of the court
What Might Result.
If the minister should insist upon 1t, 1t
therefore appears that Magistrate Cornell.
Policeman Walsh, who made the arrest.
are liable to fine and Imprisonment for the
part they played in enforcing the law for
the protection of our citizens, male and fe-
male, against a member Of a foreign lega-
ton, temporarily within our gates. If the
minister is really in earnest in this matter
anu ~ ulSpOSeu 70 make II all LII
issue, 1t is possible that he may also file a
claim against the United States for dam
ages for the indignity alleged to have been
sustained by one of his diplomatic family.
Not Presented to the State Department
The matter had not been presented to the
State Department In any form up to a late
hour this afternoon,an such of the officials
as could be seen refused to take the matter
seriously. One of them secuted the story
extremely improbable on the ground that
Minister Andrade was too good diplomat
to jeopardize, by the reported course Of
action, the very cordial relations existing
between the United States and Venezuela.
especially at the present time. when the
latter counts SO much upon the aid and
curing an honorable adjustment Of its Sc
rious territoriaE disputes with Great
Britain. .A-.t
What the Minister Says.
Senior Andrade said this afternoon that
he had not yet given the matter his serious
attention, and therefore was not prepared
to say what he would do Up to today.
when Senior Palaeio arrived in the city,
the minister had no information of the at
fair, except as he had seen it IN the news
papers, and it was stated at the legation
that nothing would be done until all the
facts had been established.
The Venezuelan consul at New York has
been called on for 4 report of the affair.
Senior Andrade, the minister's son, said
this afternoon that 1t was a mistake to say
that the minister had determined to invoke
the law to secure the punishment of those
concerned in the arrest and fine of Senior
Palacio.
He said the minister had not authorized
such a statement, and he added that such
an announcement on his part would be abb
surd in the absence of full Information.
The legation officials are disposed to con-
slider the affair as Of comparative insig-
nificance-