The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-24
DANGER OF CONFLICT UVER.
The United states withdraSs In the
Venezuela Asphalt Cnse.

Venezuela Asphalt Cnse.
The Department Of State which has
from the FIRST of the asphalt dispute in
Venezuela supported the claims of the
trust. has backed down from its position.
and the fact that there is now no danger
of conflict in Venezuela is now ac-
knowledged. The department is extremely
anxious to withdraw from the controversy
having come to the realization, II is said.
'hat its position was not warranted. and
entirely new instructions have been sent
to Minister Loomis, at Caracas He was
at hrst directed to make certain demands
upon the Venezuelan Government, and to
see that the lives OF Americans and their
property, which were reported to be in
jeopardy. were protected Now he has
been told to permit the Venezuelan Gov
eminent TO pursue its own course, and
simply to protest. IL there is a denial Of
justice. 1t is probable that the Scorpion,
which is now at La Guayra. will be with
Grawn within few days, and the incl
dent closed with the complete defeat OF
the purposes of the trust in securing the
aid OF this Government to intimidate Ven
ezuela to permit the New York and Ber-
mudez Company to enjoy a monopoly of
the asphalt privileges.
rsA-StEdLpF f1lSCOtk. represent
ing the Warner cuinlan Company. and
Gen. Francis v Greene. the head of the
trust, had joint hearing yesterday be-
fore Solicitor Penfeld of the State De-
partment In reply to the statement of
the case submitted by Mr.. Hiscock. Cen
eral Greene yesterday suggested hat the
controversy be submitted to arbitration.
He proceeded to outline plan, but was
interrupted by Ex-senator. Hiscock who
/ declared that his principals had nothing
to arbitrate. and that they would make no
suen agreement. He Said that the terri
tory in dispute had been surveyed by a
commission of three engineers Jointly APP
pointed. and their findings In favor OF the
feitcidad Company had been approved by
the Venezuelan Government.
4 warm but not unfriendiy collouuy en-
sued, during which Mr.. Hiscock declared
that the Warner-Quinlan Company was
going to proceed to work its concession
as II nothing had happened. and if IL was
interrupted. interfered with, or in case
OF any trouble. it would appeal TO the
courts of Venezuela AS a result of the
hearings of the past two days the new
instructions have been sent TO Minister
LOOMS, and they practically mark the
withdrawal of this Government from the
controversy and the abandonment of its
policy to use the blueJackets and marines
to support the trust and enable it to
drive out its rival by force of arms
Il consider the incident closed" said ex-
Senator Hiscock. in an interview yester-
day there never was any danger of a
conflict; the report that the trust had
been threatened by the regular troops Of
Venezuela Is a base fabrication The
stories of trouble all emanated from the
trust. While do not know positively. 1
do not believe that the New York and
Bermudez Company ever had any armed
men. All of these statements were made
for the purpose of bluffing. 1t would have
been an outrage for the Government TO
have sent the Scorpion to Guanaco, and
believe the State Department. which has
changed its position materially. now sees
it. No warship will be sent there. and
We VIII go on working cur deposit just as
II all this controversy and talk of revolu-
ton had never taken place There never
was any critical situation and attribute
much of this excitement to Minister
LOOMS"