Evening star., 1901-04-17
Alleged Interviews in Which He
Criticised President Castro.
MADE OUT OF THE WHOLE CLOTH
Remarks of Other Men Were
Quoted as His.
SITUATION IN VENEZUELA

NEW YORK, April 11.-Frank n. Ioomis
United States minister to Venezuela, spent
last night in quarantine with the rest OF
the passengers on the Red ID liner Caracas,
on which he came from Porto Rico. On
disembarking today Mr.. Loomis drove at
once to the Hotel Victoria, where he Will
be quartered until the end OF the present
week, when he goes to Washington to re-
port to the State Department and Presi-
dent Mckinley. He gives a positive dis
claimer to the authorship of the San Juan
interviews in which he was made to say
some severely critical things about Pres-
dent Castro, and AYERS that an injustice
has been done him in this respect To an
Associated Press reporter who met him
at quarantine today, Mr.. Loomis said:
Il did not say any Of the unpleasant
things that have been attributed TO me
about President Castro during my stay at
San Juan. or. indeed, anywhere else. The
fact is i like Mr. Castro very much i was
interviewed at San Juan, but II was more
a pleasant chat than anything else. There
were other passengers aboard and present,
who said some unkind things, but i GER
tanly did not. / cannot understand how
the criticisms were put in my mouth un-
less the views of the passengers alluded
to We're made mine. / am quoted as say
ing that President Castro drew but s12Ooo
a year salary, yet had made S2,oo0.o00 in
two years. Now, l do not even know posi-
lively that the president gets the salary
named, and l knew nothing Of any money
he has made. l must also deny that L
said he plotted to secure my recall or re-
moval.
Could Not Discuss Official Business.
81 cannot discuss the recent diplomatic
incident with Venezuela. There are
several points in connection with it that
/ will report on to the department
and naturally they are quite confiden-
tial L may say, however, that the pre-
liminary steps toward a legal settle
ment of the asphalt case have been taken
in the Venezuela courts. There is precisely
where our government wished the dispute
to go. We insisted that the dispute be sub
mitted for adjudication without prejudice.
and carried our point L do not say that
our government does not reserve the right
to intervene if justice is not done. but We
want the matter passed upon by the courts.
There some feeling at the height of
the incident. but it has subsided and our
relations at the present time are quite
satisfactory. L cannot say how long IL will
take to reach a decision in the asphalt
cases. / presume the e-law has its delays in
Venezuela as elsewhere.
President Castro seems to have the
country quite under control. A constitu-
tional convention, the eleventh they have
had, / believe, has just adjourned, and
there is to be election I'm the autumn.
1t is quite certain that Castro will be elect
ed president and inaugurated next spring.
The constitutional convention has changed
the tenure of the president from four to
six years. Andrade is. am told. at Cura-
Goa, and / feel that the report is true. for
there is generally a colony of NeneZueians
there thinking of home and anxious to i'm
prove the political condition. / am told
Andrade plans an expedition to Venezuela.
but l do not anticipate any trouble for
some months.
Politics I'm Venezuela
''Venezuelans who have discussed An
drade with me say that while he is well
informed, rather able and quite broad
kind-hearted to make a successful ruler.
They say that another leader a younger
man, will be brought forward to oppose
President Castro. However, of all these
matters | have no personal knowledge and
am merely telling you what NeneZuelans
say.
The Barcelona incident, in which our
consular agent was twice arrested by local
officials in attempt TO eXtort money
from him. has been practically closed and
in manner quite satisfactory to Our
government directed me to demand an
apology and the fullest reparation. Just
before leaving / was given assurance that
the fullest amends would be made. / be-
lieve that the assurances given me will be
carried out.
Il do not expect to return to Venezuela
tropics have left me in need of change and
rest; my physician says Carlsbad. and 4
am going to try and get leave for trip TO
Europe -