Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-13
Seem to Be Getting on Bad Terms
 With Each Other.
SOM F syIPL0MATIC HISTORY
h Has Finally Resulted in kF Passport Being Given
 to a Minister.

WASHINGTON, March 12.-The action of
 the French govern ment in presenting pass ports to Dr. J. Gil Fortoul, the Venezuelan
 charge d. affairs at Paris, is the concluding
 cha pter in a bit of interesting diplomatic
 history.
 Two years ago in October last General
 Crespo, who had headed successful revo-
 luton in Venezuela, entered the city of
 Caracas and was at once made president of
 the republic. Within few days after his
 successful entry and while the dom sstic
 affairs of the country were in unsettled
 condition conference was held, consist
 ing of the French, Belgian, Spanish and
 German ministers, to decide what action
 they should take regarding the damages
 which the citizens of their several countries
 had received as result of the revolution.
 The Italian minister was asked to be pres-
 ent, but declined 10 attend. The confer ence was secret 1t was decided that as the representatives of the foregoing countries
 they should call upon the new president of the republic, General Crespo, to submit the claims of their citizens to an lnterna- tional commission. This conclusion was not in keeping witt. the Venezuelan law, which recognizes the general principles of international law that a country shall not be responsible for losses sustained by for
 eigners residing within it's boundaries
 which have resulted from a revolution.
 The min utes of the con ference showed that
 the diplomatic quartette which composed it had indulged in strong criticism Of Vene- zuela, and that their strictures upon the domestic and foreign policy of the govern ment were very severe.
 copy of the proceedings was furnished to the Italian minister, who at once for | warded it to Rome. Meanwhile General | Crespo, after order had been restored, took | up the claims of the citizens of these coun- .; nd Ix cd taAf fad Ia knew, it is said, nothing of the diplomatic conference, of it's conclusions, or of it's sharp criticisms upon his country. His action was the result of a sincere desire to indemnify the foreigners in Venezuela for the losses suffered by them, and to express his friendly interest in the governments which they represented.
 In January last the minutes of the con- ference above referred to were published in the Italian green book. copy of the book was forwarded to Caracas. President Crespo was indignant at the comments made at the conference. and he immedi- ately ordered that the French and Belgian | ministers, who were the two of the original l quartette then residing in Venezueiai | should be given their passports. Dispatches contain information that | French man war has been ordered to
 LsGuayra to receive the French minister, ister, Mir. Leveganck, will douotless ac- company his French colleague. The French government, h return for the dis miss4l of Monte Clare, on Saturday last sent Dr.. Fortou his pass ports.
 Dr. Fortoul is also the Venezuelan repre-. sentative to Switzerland. He is now at Berne, whither he was called some time ago to represent the interests of Venezuela in a claim for damages which the president of ihe Swiss republic is aroitrailng. lie will probably emsin at Berne until diplo- matic relations between France and Vene- zuela have been restored.
 How long the entente cordial will remain disturbed is a question which no one at | this point can satisfactorily answer. Dismissal of the diplomatic representa- | lives from the two countries cannot result | In war or trouble of serious nature, inas- much as all governments reserve the right | to rid themselves of the diplomatic repre- sentatives of other governments who are persona non grata.