The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-23
CONTENT With DIR. LOOMS
The Minister in the Good Graces of
the Administration.
He Calls at the state Department
and Confers with Secretary Hay
May Not Return TO VenezueIa-Cas-
trO's Alleged Interview Discussed.


May Not Return TO VenezueIa-Css-
trO's Alleged Interview Discussed.
ister to Venezuela, about whose status
there has been so much talk lately. reach
ed Washington last night from New York
and called on Secretary Hay at the State
Department. this morning. Sir. Hay and
,Ir- LOOMS had conference which was
described by Mr.. Loonis as interesting
During the interview the San Juan inter
views, in which Mr.. Ioomis was quoted
as severely critfcising President Castro of
Venezuela, were not mentioned, Mr.. Hay
apparently being satisfied with an expla-
nation which he had received previously
from a friend Of the minister, that the
Objectionable statements had never been
made by him
Mr.. Loomis will remain here until the
end OF the week, and viii have interviews
with the President and Secretary Hay, in
which the attitude Of this Government to-
ward Venezuela will be defined. From
Washington Mr.. LOOMS viii go to Gin
cinnati where he viii remain until the
middle of May. He VIII then go to New
York and sail for Europe to carry out the
instructions of his physician to try the
waters at Carlsbad He will be in Europe
several months
After fIs talk with Mr.. Hay. Minister
Loomis said to Times reporter that it
was among the possibilities that ne would
return to Venezuela. He declined to be
more definite than that In answer to a
question whether it was true as reported,
thai he was persona non grata to the
Venezuelan Government, he said that he
had cuthing to say on that subject.
Apparently the official status of the
minister is uncertain, but It is understood
generally at the State Department that he
viii not return to his post unless there
should be a change of administration at
GARAGES during his absence from vene-
zueIa. The interview between Secretary
Hay and Mr.. Loomis was necessarily
brief, as Sir. Hay was preparing to go to
the Cabinet meeting when Mr.. Loomis
called. At their next interview Mr. Eoomis
viii explain the attitude of President
Castro toward the United States and what
he has TO say may have marked bear
ing on the policy which this Government
viii pursue.
Afr. I.oomis confirmed the report that
before leaving Caracas he had received
positive assurances that reparatfon would
be made in the case Of Ignacio H. Baiz.
the United States Commercial Agent at
Barcelona, who has been twice thrown
into prison for oBjecting to demands made
upon him for money by the attorneys of
the local government at that place. Mr.
Baiz kept-reeeipts for some Of the forced
loans, which he was compelled to make
and Mr. Loomis was promised that the
money would be returned together with
an apology.
Mr. Boomis declined to discuss the rea-
sons for his return TO the United States
at this time or to touch upon the dipIo-
matte relations between this Government
and Venezuela.
Il had a very pleasant and satisfac-
tory conference with Secretary Hay this
morning. said he to a Times reporter.
but. of course, I cannot talk about it
or Of the present status of relations be-
tween the two countries. Neither can 1
talk about President Csstro's Government
or its attitude towards foreigners. You
had better ask some Of the Americans
who have made investments down there
il you want a correct idea as to it
4 can assure you that had no person
al disagreement with General Castro
MI LOOMS attention was called TO a
statement from President Castro printed
in an Ohio paper and said to have been
authorized by the Venezuelan executive
In it General Castro is said to have de-
cIared:
We have no proof that Mr.. Loomis ac-
cepted favors from the Burmedez Company
(the asphalt trust, but his actions lead
Us 10 believe that he did. We have proofs
that he Influenced statements to the press.
The Burrnedez Company has formally de-
MED the jurisdiction Of Venezuelan courts.
/ I, as President, can recognize no other au-
thority in the matter If the United States
sends gunboats either to La Guayra or
Orinoco. viii, to the best of my ability.
maintain my position as Chief Magistrate.
This Republic VIII strive to maintain a
strict neutrality in all disputes between
foreigners Many Of Mr. LOOMS official
acts have convinced me that he was pre-
JUDGED and I therefore asked for his re-
call"
Mr.. Loomis read this statement and re-
piled positively:
= don't believe President Castro ever
said any of these things or authorized
their publication"
Further than this Mr.. LooEnis declined
to discuss the asphalt dispute He added,
however, that Freeman HaIsted, the man
who obtained the alleged interview. was
the publisher Of the San Juan. Porto
Rico. News" ard stated that HaIsted
was continually attacking Governor Al
len and had done great harm to the
American cause in Porto Rico. He claimed
that the people of the Danish West IN
dian Islands read the News" and were
prejudiced against the United States, as
they have been given untrue stories as to
the treatment accorded the Porto Ricans
by this Government
After the Cabinet meeting it was learn
ed that Mr.. Loomis was in the good graces