The San Francisco call., 1901-12-26

aid. Copyright. 1901. by the Herald Pub
fishing Company.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Dec. 25.-Another
complication has arisen between France
and Venezuela owing to President Cas-
tro's proclivity in getting into hot water
whenever an occasion is offered. With
revolution on his hands, with Germany
preparing to enforce her claims by a ma
val demonstration in Venezuelan waters
and with Colombia anxious for his over
throw, Castro has added another to the
grievances of France against the Vene-
zuelan Government, because French citi-
zens rights have been violated.
This new grievance arises from the
seizure Of the properties Of Senior Manuel
H. Matos, leader Of the new Venezuelan
revolution and a man of wealth. Senior
Matos leased a part of his properties to
NJ. Secrestat of Bordeaux for two years,
under the Venezuelan Civil Code, which
permits such a transaction to be effected
without the necessity of registering the
documents. BY the seizure of the leased
properties President Castro has deprived
NJ. Secrestat of their revenue and use.
France Takes Prompt Action.
The French Government has notified
President Castro of the infringement of
NJ. Secrestats rights and that it intends
to protect them to the fullest extent by
demanding damages and interest If the
revenues are not Immediately paid over
to NJ. Secrestat. France has made a COM
plete investigation and has learned that
the demand, even under Venezuelan law,
is well founded.
Venezuela has been on bad terms with
France since the rupture of diplomatic
relations in 1885, because the South Amer
lean republic would not pay French claims
growing out of revolutions.
Germany intends to act Immediately
against President Castro's Government
for the latter's failure to pay interest on
the debt owing German bankers during
the last three years, and also its failure
to settle other claims of subjects of the
German Emperor The German claims
arising out of the late revolution amount
to about 100000 bolivars. and it is said
that 900 is due for coupons not paid
on the German loan.
The naval demonstration, it is said,
would have taken place by this time had
it not been that the German cruiser vi
meta needed repairs and had to go to the
| United States for an overhaulng 1t is
believed that within a short time Presi-
dent Castro will find a German squadron
making an effective demonstration in
Venezuelan waters and that Venezuelan
port has been seized.
Germany's Naval Demonstration.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-United States
and German warships are converging on
Venezuela. Three of the German vessels
are at St. Thomas and a fourth is at
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. They are ex-
pected to shortly assemble and, in SQUAD
ron formation move on and occupy
Venezuelan port
In order that the United States inter-
ests may be adequately protected, the
United States has gathered in the Carib-
bean Sea a force more formidable even
than that which destroyed Spanish naval
power in the Western Atlantic. The hat
tleships Kearsarge, Alabama and Massa-
chusetts are at Havana and will sail to-
morrow to continue their cruise. which
will carry them very near to the Vene-
zuelan coast. The battleship Illinois, now
at Algiers, La, will join them within a
few weeks. The battleship Indiana will
remain at Curacao. 10 miles from La
Guayra, and If the revolution in Vene-
zuela menaces United States interests she
will hurry to Venezuelan waters; if not.
she will join the squadron.
Besides the battleships, the United
States flag flies from the masts of two
gunboats and three training ships now In
the Caribbean Sea. They will be rein
forced by seven more training ships be-
fore the winter is at an end. The Gulf
of Paria, magnificent sheet of water
which washes the shore of Venezuela
will be the destination of most of these
ships.
The authorities have not lost sight of
the advantage of having warships in
close proximity to Venezuela Complica-
tions dangerous to the United States NAV
follow a German demonstration in Vene
zuelan waters and the administration de-
sires to be prepared to meet them.
The Navy Department received a tele-
gram to-day announcing that the train
ing-ship Prairie would leave Tompkins
VILE at daylight for Hampton Roads.
whence she will proceed direct to Port
of-Spain, or Trinidad Island, just off the
north coast of Venezuela.