Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-19
UNCLE SAN IGNORED
The Venezuelan Government Has
Been Almost Insolent Over
Asphalt Affair.
All the Requests Of the United
States Have Been Refused
or Ignored.
Other Governments Using Meas
ures to Enforce Their
Demands.

Demands.
Correspondence of Associated Press
Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad.
Tuesday, Feb. 5.-A correspondent of
the Associated Press has just returned
from ten days stay in Caracas, Vene-
Venezuelan situation The outlook is
not good. There is feeling of appre
hension in the air. The Castro govern
ment becomes more unpopular and hos
tility to it is talked rather freely and
the substantial and solvent people con-
demn the governments S attitude toward
the New York and Bermudez Asphalt
Company. The company, the CORE
spondent is Informed, is quietly gether-
ing strong force of we'll armed and
der command of Mai. Rafferty,, former
ly of the Seventy -fil-st New York regi-
ment, a brave and efficient officer They
will resist all encroachmerft
The United States gunboat Scorpion
has been ordered to Pitch lake with or
ders not to allow the company to be
disposeessed prior to the conclusion of
the judicial investigation of the case
now being made in. Washington.
The Venezuelan government is en-
deavoring in every possible way to per-
suade the company to resort to the
tribunals. The refusal of the company
to adopt that course is based upon the
trV
dent or dictator changes the judges in
night and imprisons them If they do
not give the judgment they are bidden
to give.
The correspondent talked with FIVE
diplomats in Caracas. They all asserted
that the United States government had
degree of forbearance that almost
ly of the skill and tact with which Min
lister Loomis had met delicate and
difficult situation.
The diplomatic side OF this business Is
most important and interesting The
United States. after receiving all OF the
legal record and facts in the controver-
ey between the Venezuelan government
decided to make thorough investiga-
laws of Nenezuela, some sixteen vol
umes Pending the outcome of this in
vestigation they asked the Venezuelan
government. as a matter of courtesy
between friendly nations to kindly sus-
pend the operation of the decree dispos-
sessing the New York and Bernudez
Company till an investigation could be
made This the Venezuelan government
declined to do. The request was re-
peated and again refused 1t was then
made third time in an emphatic way
by Minister Loomis; in fact, 1t was put
as a sort of vigorous demand the third
time. but the result was the same. Then
protest wa- made and that was ig-
nored by the Castro government. tho it
had ample power and authority to meet
any or all OF these demands lit saw
fit
The trouble over the asphalt is only
ore of large number of incidents In
which the Venezuelan government has
recently been guilty of grave offens s to
the government of the United States,
Three months ago the consular ag-nt q.
the United States at Barcelona was
thrust into prison without cause. The
United states government demanded an
apology, but has not received it. "A year
earlier the same consul was arrested
and threatened with torture If he did
not pay large sum of money to local
military officials
a few months ago German mer-
chant at Barcelona was tortured b. of
iicials there for the purpose OF, extorting
money from him. The German govern
ment sent cruiser there at once and
got satisfaction and kept the vessel four
months In Venezuelan waters.
The Italians have had men Of war In
venezuelan waters most of the time for
a year.
Last year the American consul at La
muaira was attacked and his life
threatened. The United States goyern-
meht mas never received satisfactory
reparation for that.