Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-18
MINISTER F.B. LOOMS
ARRIVES IN NEW YORK.
HE ENTERS A GENERAL AND SPE-
CIFIC DENIAL OF INTERVIEWS
ACCREDITED TO HIM.
HE THINKS WELL OF CASTRO.
8. AND VENEZUELA PROGRESS
ING TOWARD SETTLEMENT.

NEW YORK, April 17.-Frank B.
Loomis, United States minister to
Venezuela, spent last night in quaran-
tine with the rest Of the passengers
on the Red D. liner Caracas, on which
he came from Porto Rico. On disem-
barking to-day, Mr.. Loomis at once
drove to the Hotel Victoria, where he
will be CHARTERED until the end of the
present week, when he goes to Wash
ington to report to the State Depart
ment and President Mckinley. He
gives positive disclaimer to the author
ship of the San Juan interviews, in
which he was made to say some Sc
verely critical things about President
Castro, and AYERS that an injustice has
been done him in this respect. 10
an Associated Press reporter who met
him at quarantine to-day, Mr.. LOOMS
said:
II did not say any Of the unpleasant
things that have been attributed to me
about President Castro during my
stay at San Juan, or indeed, anywhere
else. The fact is, l like Mr.. Castro
very much. l was interviewed at San
Juan, but it was ore of a pleasant
chat than anything else. There were
other passengers aboard and present,
who said some unkind things, but l
certainly did not. 1 cannot understand
how the criticisms were put in my
mouth unless the views OF the passen-
gers alluded to were made mine. l am
quoted as saying that President Cas-
tro drew but $12, 900 a year salary, yet
had made 81, 900 900 in two years. Now,
l do not even know positively that the
President gets the salary named, and
| know nothing of any money he q
made. l must also deny that said he
plotted to secure my recall or re-
moval.
x cannot discuss the recent diplo-
matte incident with Venezuela. There
are several points in connection with
it that l will report on to the depart
ment, and naturally they are quite con-
fdential. I may say, however, that the
preliminary steps toward a legal set
tlement of the asphalt case have been
taken in the Venezuela courts. That
is precisely where our government
wished the dispute to go. We insisted
that the dispute be submitted for adju-
dication, without prejudice, and car
ried our point. l do not say that our
government does not reserve the right
to intervene If justice is not done, but
we want the matter passed upon by the
courts. There was some feeling at the
height of the incident, but it has sub
sided, and our relations at the present
time are quite satisfactory. I can
not say how long it will take to reach
a decision in the asphalt cases; l PIE
sumo the law has it's delays in Venezu-
ella as elsewhere.
President Castro seems to have the
country quite under control. A consti-
tutional convention, the eleventh they
have had, I believe, has just adjourned.
and there is to be an election in the
autumn. 1t is quite certain that Cas-
tro will be elected and inaugurated next
spring. The constitutional convention
has changed the tenure of the President
from four to six years. Andarde, | am
told, is at Curacao, and l feel that the
report is true, for there is generally
a colony of V~enezuelans there think
ing of home and nxou to improve the
political condition, and l am told that
Andrade contemplates an expedition to
Venezuela, but | do not anticipate any
trouble for some months.
"Venezuelans who have discussed
Andrade with me say that, while he is
well informed, rather able and quite
b~road-minded, he is lacking strength
and too ~kind-hearted to make a success
full ruler, They say that another leader,
a younger man.. will be brought for
ward to oppose President Castro. How
ever. of all these matters, l have no
personal knowledge, and am merely
telling you what Venezuelans say.
THE Barcelona incident In which our
consular agent was twice arrested BY
local officials in an attempt to extort
money from him, has been practically
closed, and in a manner quite satisfac-
tory to us. Our government directed
me to demand an apology and the full
est reparation. Just before leaving, 1
was given assurance that the fullest
amends will be made. l believe that
the assurances given me will be carried
out.
II do not expect to return to Ven
ezuela for at least FIVE months. Four
years in the tropics have left me in need
of change and rest; my physician says
A--RAA-a :