New-York tribune., 1901-04-15
THE ASPHALT DISPUTE.
PRESENT SITUATION OF AFFAIRS IN
VENEZUELA.

ASSERTION THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL RE
VIEW THE COURT PROCEEDINGS AT
-. CARACAS MADE AND DENIED
Curacao, April tspeciaD.-Your correspond
<nt who has been in Venezuela for several days
returned acre to-day. The situation at Caracas
eo far as il interests Americans has bv no
means reached an agreeable and final phase
The intense and bitter rivalry over asphalt
nroperties is a three cornered fight in which the
government Of Venezuela, the New-York and
Re-rnudez Company of New-York and Messrs
Warner and Quinlan, Syracuse contractors are
all concerned. The contest is over the posses-
zion of enormously valuable lake of asphalt
which the NewYork and Bermudez Company
has possessed for fourteen years. and on which
Il has spent three-quarters of a million dollars
in plant, railways. whaEves and other improve
rnents. It is proposed by certain government
officials to take 'he whole property away from
tbe New-York and Bermudez COMPANY and to
give portion Of it to Messrs. Warner and
ouinlan who purchased new titles to it from
Venezuela spectators, while the larger and
more valuable part of the pitch lake these gov
eminent officials ana their friends propose to
get for themselves, and they now have an agent
In New-York, named Conde. who is authorized
to dispose of il.
The United States Government has insisted
al the while that the New ork and Bermudez
Company should not be deprived of its property
in any hasty or irregular way and has finally
got the case submitted to the Supreme Court
Of Venezuela for adjudication. 1t has plainly
said TO the Venezuelan Government. through its
Minister. Mr.. Loomis that in the case of a
denial Of justice the whole legal process will be
reviewed Washington.
The talk in the sensational papers some weeks
ago about the United States having sent several
warships at one time 10 Venezuela to intimidate
that government was unfounded / have seen
the commanding officers of all the ships which
came Venezuelan waters, and the Scorpion
was the only sent specifically for the pro-
lection Of American interests. and she is an
slo-ton converted yacht. The other vessels
called at La Guayra in the course of their regu-
lar winter cruises just many ships of war
do every year during the cold months north.
The asphalt controversy has taken
phase from a diplomatic point of view, within
the last month The government officials who
are largely interested in a pecuniary way in
the disposal of the pitch lake are much in
censed over the action of the United States
Minister Francis B Loomis. Under instruc-
tons from the Department of State he had to
make it plain to them that any plan for
.'hustling' the New-York and Bermudez Com
pany out OF possession of the property which it
has held and operated for q long period would
not be tolerated. Plainly. it originally the
plan OF the natives engaged in this enterprise
10 rush the matter to conclusion and get hold
of the lake before the United States Govern
ment could interfere automatically. This
scheme Mr.. Loomis frustrated, and now the
Venezuelans declare that they never thought of
any method OF procedure other than through
the slow method of the courts Nevertheless
they are furious with the American Minister
and q number of newspapers. directly encour-
aged and inspired by the government. have
pF aaTiSa and tioy,
against him, the American Navy and, Incl
dsntally, the Department of State for more than
month. The object of this attack is to pave
the way for getting rid of the American Min
lister before the Supreme Court gives its verdict
in me asphalt controversy. The officials do not
want MN here then, for he is familiar with
every detail Of the question, and they doubtless
roresee embarrassing episodes. for it is an open
secret that the court is absolutely dominated by
General Castro, the Dictator.
The chances are that before this letter reaches
New-Fork the Venezuelan officials who have
personal interest in effecting the recall of the
Minister will contrive to have demand OF some
sort affecting him made at Washington
The venezuelan Government is trying to
negotiate a loan OF $4,000 900 IN New-York
and the matter is being considered by one
OF the well known life insurance companies.
Notwithstanding the wretched government
Venezuela has had much Of the time for the
last fifteen years, and the notorious corruption
OF officials, the nations receipts always exceed
It's expenditures and the government can pay
the interest on all its debts II 1t so chooses
with perfect ease.
New-fork and Bermudez Asphalt Company,
has been nominated vice-president Of the re-
public.
The above letter shown P. R. Quinlan, of
syracuse. member of the firm of Warner & Quin-
Ian which is contesting the claim OF the New-York
and Bermuda Company, last night. and he said:
This is like ali other stories inspired by the as
p,haIt trust. We stand on our merits We pur-
chased rights IN Venezuela and believe that
We have legitimate claim. We proceeding IN
the natural and logical The asphalt trust ap-
pealed 10 the Venezuelan Cabinet. which is a court
IN itself, TO annul concession. The Cabinet,
afoer Que elaboration. declined to do Then the
asspaat trust tried to outlaw us and to have the
United States Government take hand. We ap-
pealed 70 the Supreme Court OF Venezuela There
Is no review revision of the decision OF this
and for the agents of the asphalt trust try
make out that the United States Government is to
review the findings Of this is absurd. That
Would not be recognized In international law by
any government in the world. We following
an orderly and logical course. Whatever this court
decides We stand upon but waiting to get
tns decision before invest any further The story
above is ike many others inspired by the trust,
but we are saying nothing We stand upon the
merits Of contention. and await the decision OF
The tribunal in Venezuela which has the power and
The right 10 adjudicate claim