The times., 1901-04-01
The Venezuelan DimcuIty.

The Venezuelan Difficulty.
Considerable mystery still surrounds
the sudden departure Of Minister
I.oomis from Caracas. The State De-
partment version-for public use-is
that he has been merely called home
for consultation; but there is sus-
picion, based on private advices, that
he may have been handed his pass
ports and asked to leave Venezuelan
territory. The situation, therefore. is in
doubt, and will probably remain so un-
til the ability of the Asphalt Trust to
drag the United States into acts of ag-
gresson against a friendly nation shall
be demonstrated or shown to be not
great enough to involve President Nc
Kinley in an act of war.
We presume that there are what some
people would call sound business rea-
sons for the extremely one-sided COM
ments which are appearing daily in
American newspapers, concerning the
attempt of the Asphalt Trust to pre-
vent the Warner Sullivan syndicate of
Syracuse, New York, to possess itself
of the pitch deposit at Lake Felicidad.
for which 1t holds concession, In the
papers to which we refer there IS moth
ing said about the contention of the
Venezuelan Government that the trust s
concession never extended to the de-
posit acquired by the smaller concern.
Nor is mention made of the fact that,
as reported, some time ago the con-
testants voluntarily left their claims to
arbitration, the arbitrators, after a
careful investigation and a full hearing,
deciding against the trust. All such
matter is eliminated, and the New York
and Bermudez Corporation, whose po-
sition on the face of the returns does
not look like very worthy one, is
made to appear as a suffering Amer
lean infant industry. struggling In the
cruel grasp of a South American des-
potism.
The Administration may be sincere in
the statement, made IN instructions
10 Minister LOOMS, that the United
States does not side with either claim
ant, but only desires that the matter
shall he subjected to proper judicial
enquiry and decision. If so. 1t is rather
peculiar that the acts Of the Govern
ment so far have been on all fours with
the interests of the Asphalt Trust. The
little American syndicate, struggling
against one of our great monOpolies.
does not appear to have been Consid-
cred in the proceedings. while warships
have been hurried to the Venezuelan
coast, and threats to invade the coun-
try and seize the disputed territory
have been made. as it is alleged, on
the trusts intinlation that such things
were desirable.
It is a pitiable spectacle to see a
great world Power bullying a weak
little neighbor State. even where the
latter has been much at fault, irritat-
ing, and perhaps lnsolent. But that such
bullying isllflGG5i3ld be engaged in with
even the suspicion attaching that Il IS
resorted to for the illegitimate benefit
of a private corporation. and for the
destruction of smaller American en-
terpIise without the political influence
and bursting wealth of its competitor.
would be national humiliation indeed.
Mr.. Mckinley has decided 10 treat Agui-
naldo exactly rs all the other rebels are
treated. Unless it shall be found that he
has seriously offended against the laws
of civilized warfare, he will have the
benefit of the general amnesty procIama-
ton, If he chooses to accept it, In that
event, he would be turned loose and left
TO his own devices. We are not prepared
to critlcise this decision; but II is perhaps
well to remind the Administration that
Aguinaldo has given so many evidences
of treachery in the past that no posi-
bic reliance should be placed on his prom
ises If he still! has any substantial in
fuence with his Tagal tribesmen, it would
be well enough to utilize it, if that could
be done, In the interests Of submission
and order But we are afraid that unless