The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-07
NO WAR ONCOLOMBIA
DIR. URBANEJA SAYS CASTRO HAS
NO INTENTION OF DECLAR-
ING WAR
vENEzUELANs ARE AGAINST IT
Talk of Conquest Blind to Cover
Personal Ambition of Few
Castro May Have
Trouble Later.

WlLLEMSTAD, Island of Curocoa. Sat
| uroay, oct. 5.-Yesterday a Representa-
/ tive OF the Associated Press interviewed
Dr. Alexandra Urbaneja, president of the
| executive committee of the Venezue,an
| Nationalist revolutionary party, regard
| ing the political situation. DR. ITrbanai.
! is virtual leader of the marty .nd
personal representative of Gen. Hernan-
oez. He was a cabinet minister 1r1er
/ former President Crespo and is a snror,,-
lLent lawyer. Today he is in exile in
| Curocao.
Inc Nationalists until the present
.lne, SAID Dr. Urbaneja, ''have passive
ly witnessed President Castro's att;tuda
and actions toward Colombia. hrt NV
are now compelled to protest against
them. Neither the Nationalists nor the
country at large have ever sustained the
actions of Castro, actions which now
promise an international war. The Ma
tlonalsts do not desire war with sister
republic, nor would they follow Castro in
sucn war On the contrary. they as
well as the country at large, will re-
fuse to participate
IL Colombia had ever really offended
venezuela there would be no necessity
Tor Castros forcible recruiting as AT
present, In order to obtain an arny to
punish the offending country In such
an event all Venezuelans would loyalty
and enthusiastically join to punish the
offender
90 not think President Castro will
oeclare war against Colombia In the
nrst place, to do so legally, he must
obtain the consent of the Venezuelan
congress, which will not convene before
Fepruary next In the second place, /
90 not believe that the members of the
venezuelan congress, although they are
partlsans of Castro, will ever consent
TO war to help Colombian revolution
lists IN Venezuela Neither do I believe
IN the dream of Gran Colombia by
force of arms. Bolivars achievement
was effected under certain special con-
alt1ons that do not exist today. Per-
maps a Gran Colombia is possible
through peaceful diplomatic operations
put never through forceful and military
actlon. All this talk is a farce, a blind
TO cover the personal ambition of a few
men.
president Castro recently ordered the
Imprisonment of all Nationalists ~ Ven
ezuela. This convinces me that he does
not intend to declare war against Col
ombia, because after eliminating the
Nationalists there would be Comparative
ly lew Venezuelans left who could be
counted on to supply the men and money
needed to wage war against Colombia.
MY principal reason for not believing
a declaration of war will be made lies
IN President Castro's attitude to the in
ternal political situation. If he intend
ed to declare war he would attempt to
unite all Venezuelans of all political
creeds in solid front against Colombia.
Quite the contrary is the case. He is
prosecuting the numerous nationaIties.
and the latter will before long lose pa
.ience, turn on their tormenter, actively
ana IN arms. and declare against him
In retaliation. In the improbable event
of his declaring war against Colombia,
President Castro would receive the act
i've support of only a few of his most ar
dent supporters.
"On the authority of Ell Mocho, I can
say that notwithstanding his continued
solitary confinement, in a dark. ill-yen-
tilated cell, Notwithstanding the chains
On his legs and arms, the lack of exer-.
else and the wretched food, his health
is enduring the severe strain.''