Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-07
VENEZUELAN STATUS
As Viewed by a Man Who Looks
at it from the Island of,
Curacao
AND THE POSITION OF AN EXILE
Castro Will Not Declare War on
Colombia Because He Can't
Raise the Needed Force.

Willemstad. Island of Curacao. oct
saturday representative of the
Associated Press interviewed DIR. Ale
iandrO Urbaneia. president of the ex-
Nationalist revolutionary party. re
garding the political situation. DIR. Ur-
bhneja is the virtual leader of the
PARTY. and the personal representative
OF lei MOchO'' General Hernandez.
He was a cabinet minister under fer
mer President CreSpo and is prOmi
nent lawyer. Today he is in exile in
Curacao. The Nationalists. until the
present time" said DR.. Urbaneja.
have paSSiVely witnessed President
Castro'S attitude and actions toward
Colombia; but they are now compelled
to protest against them. Neither the
Nationalists nor the country at large
have ever sustained the actions of Cas-
trO-cactiOns which now promise an in
1ernational war. The NationaliStS do
not desire war with q sister republic
nor would they follow Castro in such a
war. On the contrary. they. as we'll
as the country ut large. would refuse
to participate.
Castro Not tn Declare War.
IF Colombia had ever really offend
sity for CaStro'S forcible recruiting. as
mt present. in order to obtain an army
TO punish the offending country. In
such an event all Nenezuelans would
legally and enthusiastically join To
punish the offender. | do not think
President Castro will declare war
against Colombia. In the first place,
to do so legally he must obtain the
consent of the Venezuelan, congress.
which will not convene before Febru-
airy next. In the second place. | do
not believe the members of the Nene-
zuelan congress, although they are all
partisans of President Castro. would
ever consent 10 a ruinOus war with
Colombia in order to help Colombian
revOlutiOniSts.
Couldn't Get the Needed Force.
Neither do l believe in the pOssI-
bIIity of the reconstruction of Gran
Colombian by force of arms. BOlivar's
achievement WAS effected under GER
tain special conditions that do not eX-
ist today. Perhaps q Gran Colombia
is possible through peaceful. intellec
IuaI operations. hut never by military
force. All the talk now indulged III
on this subject iS a mere preteNt-'
blind TO cOEer the personal ambition
of Il few men. President Castro re-
Gently ordered the Imprisonment of all
Nationalists in Venezuela. This CON
vinceS me that he does not intend 10
declare war against Colombia. because
after eliminating th2 EdtiOnaiists. there
would he cOmparativel few NeneZue-
lanS left who could he counted upon
to supply the men and money needed
TO wage hoStilitieS against Colombia.
Not Trying to Obtain Harmony.
My principal reason for not believ-
ing Il declaration of war will be made
les in President CastrO's attitude TO
ward the internal political situation.
If he intended to declare war he would
attempt TO unite all NeneZuelaus of all
rolitrical creedS in a solid front against
Colombia. Quite the contrary is the
case. He is prosecuting the numerous
nationalitieS. and the latter will before
long lose patience. turn on their tor
mentor actively and in arms. aud de-
clare against him in retaliation"