Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-17
MINISTER LOOMS
MAKES DENIAL.
Never Said Unpleasant Things
About Prest. Castro,
ON CONTRARY, LIKES AlM.
Refuses 10 Discuss Recent Diplomatic
Incident Barcelona AFFAIR IL NOW
Practically Closed.

New York, April l7,--Frank B, Loom
is, United States minister to VenNzuela,
spent last night In quarantine with the
rest Of the passengers on the He'd d
liner Caracas, on which he came from
Porto Rico. on disembarking today
Mr.. LOOMS drove at once to the Hotel
Victoria whore he viii be quartered UNI
I'll the end Of the present week, whom
he goes TO Washington TO report to the
state department and President McKln-
ley.
To the Associated Press reporter who
met him at quarantine today Mr.,
Loomis said II did not say any Of
the unpleasant things that have been
attributed to me about President Castro
during my stay at San Juan or any
where else. The fact Is ! like Mr.. Cas-
tro very much. / was interviewed at
San Juan; II was more Of a pleasant
chat than anything else. There were
other passengers aboard and present
who said some unkind things but,
certainly did not. | cannot understand
how the criticisms were put In my
mouth unless the views OF the passen-
gers alluded TO were made mine. | am
quoted as saying that President Castro
drew but $4,000 year salary yet had
made S2,O00,0OO In two years. Now.
do not even know positively that the
president gets the salary named and
! knew nothing Of any money he has
made. | also deny that I said he plot
ted to secure my recall or removal
~ cannot discuss the recen; dlplo-
matte incident with Venezuela. There
are several points IN connection with II
that | will report on 60 the department
and naturally they are quite confiden-
tlal. | may say, however, that the pre-
limlnary steps towards legal sattle-
ment OF the asphalt case have been
taken in the Venezuela courts. That is
precisely where our government wished
the dipute TO 60. We Insisted that the
dispute be submitted for Adjudication
without prejudice and carried our
point. | do not say that our govern
ment does not reserve the right to in
tervene II justice is not done, sbut we
want the matter passed upon by the
courts. There was some feeling at the
height Of the incident, but II has sub
sided, and our relations at the present
time are quite satisfactory. | cannot
say how long II VIII take to reach a
decision In the asphalt cases, presume
the law has Its delays in Venezuela as
elsewhere.
President Castro seems TO have the
country quite under control consti-
tutlonal convention, the eleventh they
have had, | believe, has adjourned, and
there is 10 be an election In the autumn.
II Is quite certain that Castro win be
elected president and lnaugurated next
spring. The constitutional convention
has changed the tenure of the president
from four TO six years. Andrade Is, /
am told at Curaooa. and feel that the
report II true, for there Is generally a
colony of Venezuelans there thinking
OF home and anxious 20 improve the po-
lltlcal conditions am told Andrade
plans an expedition to Venezuela, but |
do not anticipate any trouble for some
months.
"Venezuelans who have discussed AM
drade with me say that while he Is well
informed rather able and quite broad
minded, he Is lacking In strength and
too kind hearted TO make a successful
ruler They say that another leader, a
younger man, VIII be brought forward
TO oppose Castro. However, OF all these
matters / have no personal knowledge
and am merely telling you what Vene-
zuelans say.
"rhe Barcelona incident, In which our
consular agent was twice arrested by
local officials IN an attempt to extort
money from him has been practically
closed and in a manner quite salts
factory to us. Our government direct
ed me to demand an apology and the
fullest reparation, Just before leaving
| was given assurance that the fullest
amends would be made. | believe that
the assurances given me VIII be carried
out. ! do not expect to return 90 Vene-
zuela for az least five months. -Four
years In the tropics have left me In need
Of change and rest my physician says
Carlsbad, and / am going 10 try ana
get leave for trip TO Europe"