The St. Louis Republic., 1901-01-20
Governments Policy of Squeezing
Enterprises, if Unchecked,
Will Force Them to Leave.
SCORPION AT WILLEMSTAD.
American Cruiser, on the Way 20
Guanaco, Brings Late News
of the Threatening Sit
uation.

| Willemstad Island OF Curaco Dutch West
Indies. Jan. 49, Cvia Haytien Csble).-The
United States Auxiliary cruiser Scorpion
| 0ieutenant Commander Sargent command
| ingl has Just arrived here on her way to
| Guanaco. Venezuela. the nearest port TO the
| scene OF trouble between the rival asphalt
| companies
| She recently left La Guayra (the port of
| Caracas and brings the latest news Of the
Venezuelan troubles. The situation Is de-
| scribed as being serious. 1t Is said that the
| emphatic protests of the Government at
Washington have been defled and bloodshed
at the lake Of the Bermuda Asphalt Com
| pany was feared. The most hotheaded of
the foreigners in Venezuela go so far as TO
say that If the Washington Authorities do
not take steps TO protect American citizens
now, all foreigners may as well leave the
country. The officers of the Scorpion are
quoted as saying that the diplomatic corps
at Caracas is unanimous on this point.
are all the foreigners. They admit how
ever that the United States Minister at
Caracas. Mr.. Francis B. Loomis, is work
ing vigorously In the efforts TO arrange
matters.
The more recent developments Of the trou-
bic in Venezuela were the seizures by the
authoritis at Ciudad, Bolivar Gan important
commercial town of Venezuela, and capital
of the State of Bolivar, situated on the
right bank of the Orinoco, thirty-seven
miles by water from the seal of two steam
ers belonging to the Orinoco Company.
This concern is an English corporation, but
80 per cent OF the capital Is American. The
manager Of the company is Mr.. Morgan of
New York. The Orinoco Company has a
large fleet of steamers used for navigating
the Orinoco River. Two of these steamers
were seized by the Venezuelan authorities
during the last revolution, and IL is said
thdt they were ruined.
The concession of the Orinoco Company
was recently annulled on the ground that
It was illegal, and the opinion prevails that
1t VIII be driven from business and all the
money invested by shareholders will be lost
unless the British or American Government
interferes. Minister Loomis is using his
good office TO save the two steamers re-
Gently seized: The United States Legation
at Caracas, however. Is overwhelmed with
Work and the company's business has
stopped.
1t Is asserted that the company has paid
claims against the Government for 800 CO.,
1t is further asserted that hundreds Of
iegitimately conducted foreign enterprises
have been ruined in Latin-America during
tne last thirty years by looting officials
and revolutions, and It Is alleged that an
attempt is now being made to "squeeze''
the Bermudez Asphalt Company for about
scovU. and. according TO the reports which
reached here to-day. IL the company does
not pay this amount to the Venezuelan Of
ficials lis property. said to be worth sew
eral million dollars. will be taken, unless
the United States Government intervenes.
II the most recent Venezuelan reports
can be believed. the anti-Government dis
turbances there are confined to small revo-
lutionary movements In the eastern part of
Venezuela.
L0OMIs's STRONG NOTE.
London, Jan. ia dispatch from Cura-
coa, Dutch West Indies. to Reuters Tele-
gram Company. says the relations between
the United States and Venezuela have not
improved. and that the United States MIN
lister, Mr.. Francis Il. Loomis has sent
strongly woried note which is even de-
scrfbed as being practically an ultimatSIm
to the Venezuelan Government
PORTS CLOSED TO COMMERCE..
Washington, Jan. ia dispatch to the
State Department from United States Con-
sui lngersOll at Cartagena states that all
the ports of the Gulf of MerresQuillo and
bia. have been closed to commerce by Gov
ernmental decree.