The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-07
President of Venezuela Has No
Intention of Openly Helping Out
Colombian RevoIutionists, Says
DR.. Urbanaia
NATIONALISTS ARE
BEING PRESENTED
This is Taken as an Indication
That No WarIike Move is Con-
tempIated Against a Sister Re-
Public as the Help of the Party
Would Be Needed

Wilemstad, Oct. Gan Associated Press
representative today interviewed Dr.
Alexandra Urbanaja, president of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Venezuelan ma
tional revolutionary party, regarding the
political situation. DR.. Urbanaja is the
personal representative of Gen. Herman
DEE. He was a cabinet minister under
former President Crespo, and is prom
inent lawyer Today he is in exile in
Curacao.
The Nationalist until the present
time said DR.. Urbanaja, "have passively
witnessed President Castro's attitude and
actions toward Colombia but they are
now compelled to protest against them.
Neither the Nationalist nor the country
at large have ever sustained the actions
of Castro, actions which now promise an
international war. The Nationalist did
not desire war with a sister republlc, nor
would they follow Castro in such war.
On the contrary, they, as well as the
country a large, would refuse to partici-
pate.
IF Colombia had ever really offended
Venezuela there would be no necessity for
Castro's forcible recruiting, as at present,
in order to obtain an army to punish the
offending country. In such an event all
VeneZuelans would loyalty and enthuSi-
dSllcdlly JOIN TO punish the OllGUuGI-
Il do not think President Castro will
declare war against Colombia. In the
first place, to do so legally he must first
obtain the consent of the Venezuelan
Congress, which will not convene before
next February. In the second place, l do
not believe the members of the Venezue-
Ian Congress, although they are all part1-
sans of President Castro, would ever con-
sent to a ruinous war with Colombia in
order to help Colombian revolutonists.
i, ha.1ff he TAHC Ii
of the reconstruction of Gran Colombia"
by force of arms. Bolivar's achievement
was effected under certain special condi-
lions that do not exist today. Perhaps a
Gran Colombia" is possible through
peaceful, intellectual operations, put
never by military force. All the talk now
INDUCED in on this subject is mere pre-
text. blind to cover personal ambitions.
president Castro recently ordered the
Imprisonment of all Nationalist in Ven
ezuela. This convinces me that he does
not intend to declare war against Colom-
bia. because, after eliminating the Ma
tionalists, there would be comparatively
few Venezuelans left who could be count
ed upon to supply the men and money
needed to wage hostilities against Colom-
bia.
my principal reason for not believing a
declaration of war will be made lies IN
President Castro's attitude toward the
internal political situation. If he intends
declaring war he would attempt to unite
all Venezuelans of all political creeds in a
solid front against Colombia Quite the
contrary is the case. He is prosecuting
the numerous Nationalist and the latter
will before long lose patience, turn on
their tormentor actively and in arms and
declare against him in retaliation
I'm the improbable event of his declar-
ing war against Colombia, President Cas-
tro would receive only the support of a
few of the most extreme of his partisans
The others would desert him.
Concerning FL Mocha, who is pris-
oner at San Carlos, / can say that not
withstanding his continuous solitary con-
finement in a dark and unventiated cell,
notwithstanding the chains on his arms
and legs, the lack of exercise and the
wretched food, his health is enduring the
severe strain"