The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-26
The ISTHMIAN WAR.
PRESIDENT CAsTRO,s POSITION AS
TO THE RESURRECTION ACROSS
THE BORDER
STANDS WITH THE LIBERALS
Has No Quarrel With Colombia, but
May Have One With the
Present Colombian
Government

CARACAS, Venezuela Monday. Sent
%, via Willemstad, Island of Curacao
Sept. 25.-The correspondent here of the
Associated Press, in conversation today
with cabinet minister, who requested
that his name be withheld, discussed the
present situation, and was informed au-
tnontatively for publication that Vene-
zuela had no intention whatever of tax
ing aggressive measures against the
isthmus, or interfering in any way. es-
pecially as the United States is so d.
rectly interested.
"Venezuela's differences" added the
correspondents informant, are entirely
with the Colombian Liberals and the
colombian government, and in no Way
with the Colombian people generally. If
the Colombian Liberals were to triumph
tomorrow and the Conservatives fall in
consequence, the Venezuelan Colombian
1mbroglio would Immediately cease to
exist The Venezuelan government ear
nestly desires the downfall of the present
Colombian government, which menaces
venezuela. If war comes, one decisive
Venezuelan victory on the frontier over
the Colombian regulars probably will eff
feet the downfall of this government and
so terminate the war.
President Castro absolutely does not
consider the organization of grand Co
lomb1an republic, composed of Colombia.
venezuela and Ecuador. This experiment
was tried under Bolivar and failed. Gen.
Tribe Tribe, by his recent decree, is
alone responsible for this idea, which is
credited to President Castro, and which
the latter repudiates. Venezuela and CO.
lombia could never live under the same
government. AS to the actions of our
gunboats before La Hacha during the
past month, we were only watching CO.
lombia'S movements. We have not once
purpoSely crossed the Colombian frontier
Colombia has continually crossed our
frontier. A fortnight ago the Colombian
generals, Valencia and Vorti, and the
Venezuelan general, Rangel GarbiraS, de-
cided to invade Venezuela from Cucuta.
We are still awaiting the invasion.
Eleven thousand Venezuelan troops and
about 5000 Colombian troops are drawn
up in two opposing lines along the from
tier awaiting orders. Some trivial incident
or unexpected shot may start bloody
conflict.
when the Colombians invaded Vene-
zuela at San Cristobal in July, we asked
the Colombian minister, Senior Rico, who
was then here, to explain his countrys
actions. Senior Rico said he must first
communicate with Bogota The minister
thereon proceeded to Colombia, and
Venezuela is still awaiting Colombia's
explanation. Until this comes, or Colon
bia fails to respond, Venezuela will not
take aggressive action. IT, in the mean
time, Colombia again assumes the ag-
gressive, we shall retaliate when in read
mess.
"The offer of the United States to medi-
ate in the matter was expressed to us
verbally by the American minister. Vene-
zuela could not accept the offer because
the answer to our request to Senior Rico
for an explanation Of the invasion has
not yet been received, and affairs have
not yet reached a condition where medi-
alton is possible. Furthermore, a state of
war does not officially exist