Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-20
ASPHALT LAKE DISPUTE.
venezueans Working to Bring the Dispute Be-
fore the Tribunals.

Port of Spain, Trinidad Tuesday.
Feb. "a correspondent of the Assoc
ciated Press has just returned from
10 days stay in Caracas. Venezuela,
where h went to investigate the Nene-
zuelan situation. The outlook as one
sees it at the Venezuelan capital is not
good. There is a feeling of apprehen-
sion in the air. The Castro govern
ment becomes more unpopular and hos
tilty to it is talked rather freely. It's
attitude towards the United States
government has alarmed the conserva-
tive people of NeneZula. that is to say,
the substantial and solvent people of
the community, who are not in politics.
He has examined with much care the
whole legal record in the controversy
between the government of Nenezula
and the New York and BermudeZ Ash
phalt Company and has come to exact
| ~ the same conclusion reached by the
commanders of the United States war
ships. Hartford and Scorpion; that is,
that the effort of the Venezuelan gov
eminent. by dictatOrial decree. to de-
| prve the New York and BermudeZ
| company of its property which it has
peacefully enjoyed for ii years, is un
| just. illegal and without even reason
| able technical excuse. Every unbiased
| foreigner as well as the leading law
| yers of this country. including two
| former cabinet officers who are the
| foremost lawyers in Caracas, has an
| nounccd the same opinion after study
| ing the case with care, and, further
| more. they have plainly said that the
| government attack on this American
company was nothing more than an
| attempt to loot" it on the theory that
| it is rich corporation and would
rather pay 81 100000 than be despoled
Of all it's enormously valuable property.
The situation today. is that the whole
asphalt deposit claimed by the New
York and Bermudez Company is lost
to it unless the government Of the
| United States chooses TO intervene i'll
some way to save it.
The Venezuelan government is en-
dcavorng in every possible way to per
suade the New York and Bermudez
Company to resort 10 the tribunals. in
order. it is claimed. that it should be
legally dcspoiled Of its property and its
titles taken from it, This is well
! known trick in Venezuela. where the
president or dictator changes the
/ J
/ they don't give the judgements they
are hidden 10 give. How can one have
confidence in Venezuelan justice at this
| time when. Jan. ?. the supreme chief Of
the republic. Gen. Castro. with a stroke
Of the pen, suspended the payment Of
mortgage and not a single judge pro-
! tested against the decree.
| Fly this decree the NencZuelans had
| another proof of the power of the die
! tator. since it puts aside for the space
Of two years. a whole chapter Of the
civil code Of procedure. BY it all prop
| erty in Venezuela is affected. All per-
sons or institutes holding mortgages or
other securities against real properties
are deprived Of their rights under the
civil code of procedure in the recovery
of their just claims.
! The correspondent talked with five
| diplomats in Caracas. They all as
serted that the United States govern
| ment had acted with great prudence
| and with degree of forbcarance that
| almost ceased to be a virtue. They
| spoke highly of the skill and tact with
which Minister Looms had met a
i delicate and difficult situation.