The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-30
President Castro interviewed on
Affairs Of the Country.
VENEZUELAN PRESS BOUGHT
Large Sums Of Money Spent to Favor a Ger.
tain Company 10 the Asphalt Con-
irOyersy - Future RevOlu.
tlous Improbable.
NEW YORK. May "a dispatch t,

NEW YORK. May pa dispatch to
the Herald from Caracas says;
The correspondent Of the Herald has
lust obtained an interview with Pres
ident Castro under unusual circum-
stances. The Interview was obtained
in the presence Of minister OF foreign
affairs. Dr. BlanSo. surrounded by in
terpTeters. In order that General Cas-
tro's message 10 the United States
might reflect accurately his views 1t
was first revised by him in English,
translated into Spanish and revised
again, rewritten in Spanish as to GER
tain expressions and translated into
English again.
Our republic" said General Castro.
enjoys perfect peace. There is no dis
turbance anywhere. nor do We expect
any. We are devoting all our time to
arranging our internal affairs and pro-
noting the prosperity of VeneZuelans.
We do not see any cloud on the hori-
Eon. With regard to any supposed
wrong misunderstanding with our Sis
ter republic of the United States We
have nothing 10 fear because the mat
ter that it refers to is the asphalt con-
troversy which is at present in the
tribunals where it will be decided. Whai
is to be regretted in this question is
that person invested with an official
character seems TO have taken part in
the affair. refer to Mr.. Loomis."
DO you know Of any bribery in the
asphalt controversy or whether any at
tempt was made to bribe the officials
or the tribunals of Venezuelan" was
asked.
Il ignore completely whether any per-
son tried to brlbe the parties you in
dlcate and l am sure that none of them
is capable Of being brlbed. What
know is that large sums Of money have
been spent to get part of the Venezue-
Ian press TO favor the interests Of a
certain company This is public and
notorious, also the fact that while the
dispute vas at its height large amounts
Of money were received by an indi-
vidual. and il is indicated that the last
sums received by him were between
$4,000 to $25.OOO"
III Is said in the United States that
American life and capital are not safe
in Venezuela and that American capital
is not desired here"
The first assertion is so false an1
absurd" said General Castro, with
shrug of the shoulders. that / leave
1t to be contralicted by any person
who may visit Venezuela from abroad.
With regard to the second question
can only say that lately l tried to ne
gotiate loan in the United States Of
America which | suspect has fallen
through owing 20 the Influences ami
work of Mr.. Lo1mis. 1t is well to m m-n-
tion that Mr.. LOOMS was the first per-
son 10 indicate to ne that it was pos
sible to obtain the loan in America
Through his mediation Mr.. Meyers. who
was to have carried out the operation.
came to Caracas and Mr. Loomis was
presen; at all the conferences with the
said financial agent"
President Castro was asked wha:
should take place if the United States
government decided to send Mr.. Lo1mis
back to Caracas.
Il don't think that the United States
government will send Mr.. Loomis back
to Caracas" he replied, because I
consider that government inspired with
the best wishes to maintain cordial re-
Iations with Venezuela as we desire that
the same be daily more and more sin
cere and cordial. / never presumed