Evening star., 1901-09-26
ATTITUDE OF VENEZUELA.
No Intention to Interfere With In
terests of United States.

tefestS Oh Ohlteu
dispatch from Caracas, Venezuela, dat
ed Monday. September %, via Willenstad,
Island of Caracoa, September %. says: The
correspondent here of the Associated Press,
in conversation today with cabinet minis
ter who requested that his name be with
held, discussed the present situation, and
was informed, authoritatively for publica-
tion that Venezuela had no intention what
ever of taking aggressive measures against
the isthmus or of Interfering there in any
way, especially as the United States is so
directly interested.
"Venezuela's differences" added the
correspondents informant, "are entirely
with the Colombian liberals and the Co.
lombian government, and in no way with
the Colombian people generally. If the
Colombian liberals were to triumph to-
morrow and the conservative government
fall in consequence, the Venezuela-Co-
lombian imbroglio would Immediately
cease to exist. The Venezuelan govern
ment earnestly desires the downfall of the
present Colombian government, which men,
aces Venezuela. If war comes. one de-
cisive Venezuelan victory on the frontier
over the Colombian regulars probably will
effect the downfall of this government and
so terminate the war.
president Castro absolutely does not
consider the organization of grand Co
lombian republic, composed of Colombia,
was tried under Bolivar and failed. Gen
eral Uribe-Uribe, by his recent decree, is
alone responsible for this idea, which is
credited to President Castro, and which
lombia could never live under the same
government. President Castro knows too
much to make the experiment.
''As to the actions Of our gunboats be-
fore La Hacha, during the past month,
we were only watching Colombia's move
ments. We have not once purposely
crossed the Colombian frontier. Possibly
during the recent engagements at Quajira
our soldiers inadvertently passed the in
definite mountainous boundary. But that
Is all, while Colombia has continually
crossed our frontier. A fortnight ago the
Colombian generals, Valencia and Verti,
biras, decided to invade Venezuela from
Cucuta. We are still awaiting the inva-
sion. Eleven thousand Venezuelan troops
and about 5000 Colombian troops are
drawn up IN two opposing lines along the
frontier. awaiting orders. Some trivial in
cident 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 country's
action. Senior Rico said he must first
communicate with Bogota- The minister.
therefore, proceeded to Colombia, and
Venezuela is still awaiting Colombia's ex-
PLANTATION Of the San Cristobal invasion.
CHtH TINS comes, OF COiOmDla IdllS TO re-
spond, Venezuela will not take aggressive
action. If, in the meantime, Colombia
again assumes the aggressive, we shall re-
taliate when in readiness.
'4The 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 ,Senor Rico
for an explanation Of the invasion has
not yet been received, and matters be-
tween the two countries have not reached
condition when mediation is possible
Further. no state of war has existed. The
government at Caracas is still without re-
liable news regarding the occurrences at
La Hacha."