The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-20
ON AMERICANS
ASPHALT COMPANIES PROPERTY
CONFISCATED BY VENEZUELA.
Taken by President CastrOOn Dec. 13
and Divided Among His Friends
"A Protest Filed.

NEW YORK, Dec. 19-The Tribune prints
the following: "a cable message received
at the office of the National Asphalt Com
pany from its agent in Venezuela an
nounced that a revolution had broken out
in that country. The revolution, it is said,
is probably the outcome of an attempt on
the part of the President and Cabinet OF
Venezuela to deprive American corporations
of their property and rights. The National
Asphalt Company will be one of the prin-
cipal sufferers from this. The company
owns large concessions and mining titles in
the State of Bermudez, Venezuela. The
company has been in actual possession of
the Bermudez asphalt lake for twelve
years, and in this time it has founded the
village Of Guanaco and erected buildings,
shops and a railroad. Several attempts
have been made by the government of
Venezuela to cancel the company's con-
c~essions, but these attempts nave always
failed.
4 o'clock on Dec. ID President Castro
personally told United States Minister
LOOMS at Caracas that two government
commissions had proved the company's
right to its property. AT 6 o'clock on the
same day. it is alleged. the President
seized the entire property and divided it
" ONAACtos 1CAO1o <kfSAy IL htAO !"
vice president of the company, has appealed
to the United States government for as
sistance. In a letter to the shareholders he
says: The financial interests represented
in this matter are SO great that we feel
justified in asking prompt and positive ac-
ton upon the part of the United States
government Every legal remedy has been
exhausted, and a failure to intervene will
result in great loss TO the company. 1t
must be borne in mind at all times that the
Venezuelan government has taken our en-
tire property, and that the issue is a clean
cut one between a responsible American
company and the Venezuelan govern
ment.''
A second cablegram, additional to that
which came yesterday, was received to-day
by Mr.. Andrews. 1t asserts that the situa-
ton is extremely desperate as regards
Americans and their property in the South
American republic. The message, which
was sent by a representative OF the Ma
tional Asphalt Company. urges Immediate
action by the United States for the protec-
ton of Americans, whose lives and prop
critics are imminently endangered. A gen.
eral attack, the cablegram says, Is being
planned on all American interests in Vene-
zuela, and If succor in the prompt dispatch
of warships by the United States govern
ment is not forthcoming at once the results
may prove disastrous.
The cablegram is dated from Caracas, and
goes on to say that the revolution has been
engendered by the fight between the Ma
tional Asphalt Company and it's rivals for
lllC ROooCooAOA IL tAC aGDlALAl
lake. The lake is situated twenty miles
from the coast of Venezuela, and contains
extensive and rich deposits of asphalt. The
company's concessions 70 operate the lake
were awarded to a rival syndicate, which
carries the alleged right to work a tract of
1000 acres, which comprises about two
thirds of the lake. This tract the Ma
tional Asphalt Company claims as its ex-
elusive property.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The State De-
partment has been communicated with in
regard TO the complications growing out
of the cancellation by President Castro,
of Venezuela, of the concessions to operate
Bermudez lake by the National Asphalt
Company. and a careful examination is
being made of the representations sub
| mitted bearing on the matter. Senior Pull
do. the Venezuelan charge here, was some
what surprised to hear that there was any
revolution in his country. He does not see,
he says. how a fight between two rival cor
porations need precipitate any uprising of
the people,, and for this reason discredits
the reports that a revolution has broken
out.