Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-17
MINISTER 10 VENEZUELA
Disclaims Any Interest to Crit
 icise President Castro

Loomis Claims That an Injustice Has
 Been Done Him-The Minister Ar
 rived Last Night and Was Detained
 in Quarantine on the Steamship Car
 acas.
 New York. April 17.-Frank B. Loo mis, United States minister to Venezu- ella, spent last night ill quarantine with the rest of the passengers on the Red
 J liner Caracas, on which he came from Porto Rico, and disembarked this morning. He drove at once to the Ho- tel Victoria, where he will be. quar- tered until the end of the present week, when he goes to Washington to report to the state department and President Mckinley. He gives posi- tive disclaimer to the authorship of the San Juan interviews in which he was made to say some severely criti- cal things about President Castro, and asserts that an injustice has been done him in this respect. To an Associated Press reporter who joined him at quar- antine this morning Mir Loomis said:
 sl did not say any of the unpleasant things about President Castro during my stay at San Juan or indeed any where else. I have refrained from do- ing so, and the fact is I like Mir Gas tro very much. 1 was interviewed at San Juan, but it was more a pleasant chat than anything else. There were other passengers aboard and present who said some unkind things, but I certainly did not. cannot understand how the criticisms were put i'll my mouth unless the views of the passen- gers referred to were made mine. | am quoted with saying that President Castro drew but $12,000 year salary, yet had made $2,000,000 in two years. Now I do not even know positively that the president gets the salary named and 1 know nothing of any money he has made, must also deny that I said he plotted to secure my Ter call or removal. As I say, 1 like Mir Castro very much. I cannot discuss the recent diplomatic incident with Venezuela. There are several points in connection with it that will report to the department, and naturally they are quite confidential. 1 may say, however, that the preliminary steps to- ward legal settlement of the asphalt case have been taken in the Venezu- elan courts. That is precisely where our government wishes the dispute to go We insisted that the dispute be submitted for adjudication without prejudice and carried our point. do not say that our government does not reserve the right to intervene if jus tice is not done, but we want the mat ter passed upon by the courts. There was some feeling at the height of the incident, but it has subsided and our relations at the present time are quite satisfactory.k l cannot say how long 1t will take to reach decision in the aS- DhaIt cases. presume the law has it's delays in Venezuela as we'll as else where.
 President Castro seems to have the country quite under control. A constl- tutional convention, the 11th they have had. l believe, has just adjourned, and there is to be an election in the au- tumn. It is quite certain that Castro will be elected president and inaugu- rated next spring. The constitutional convention has changed the tenure of the president from four to six years. Andrade' is, am told, at Curacoa, and 1 feel that the report is true, for there is generally colony of VeneZuelanS there thinking of home and anxious to improve the political condition.
 .aThe Barcelona incident in which our consular agent was twice arrested by local officers in an attempt 10 eXJOrI money from him, has been practically closed. and in a manner quite satisfac7 tory to us Our government directed me to demand an apology and the full est reparation. Our representations to the Venezuelan government were strong and positive, and just before leaving I was given assurances that the fullest amends will be made. l am convinced personally that the as surances given me will be carried out.
 s'I do not expect to return to Vene- zuela for at least five months. Four years in the tropics have left me in need of change and rest. My physi- elan says Carlsbad, and am going to try and get leave for trip to Eu- rope. I am not decrying Venezuela. It is splendid country, and truly pity that its rulers are not always great and good.''
 Minister Loomis is accompanied by his wife.