The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER,

Specia! Cor. The Sun.
Washington, Jan. 9.-Many connictina
reports have been published in rprnr(
to the asphalt troubles in VencznnIa
ANA the public generally has been nt /,
ioSs 10 determine which company is in
the rlsht and whether the United States
mas anything to do with the matter
III any case. OF course, if Venezuela
were really civilized country, the an
swer to this last query would not be far
g seek. As It is, if there is any truth
| III the prevailing opinion that Justice is
LOT SAFE Ill Venezuela, as it is in most
other South American countries, it may
be the duty of the United States TO SEQ
mat no American company is robbed
even by another American company.
Hence wnrships have been ordered ID
NeheZuelah waters to observe the course
q events there and be handy to Interfere
u i should prove advisable.
Under American laws, the weight Of
ownership would certainly rest with tbc
New York and Bermudez Asphalt Com
pahy, commonly known as the Asphalt
rust through its undisputed possession
Oh me property in question for UPWARDS
o. Twelve years. and the Warner SYN
nicatc' which claims the property. wonld
nave 10 make q clear showing TO dis
pose of its rival. The Venezuelan laws.
however, following the Latin system
mat prevails il all French and Spanish
countries and not the English one, on
Wilch az English speaking peoples have
ilpdeled their codes, may nut a somc
Wlht different aspect on the matter.
IN the best official authority the facts
Y the case may be stated MS follows.
Years ago, the syndicate, now known os
the Asphalt Trust, obtained a concession
originally granted to a man named Ham
ltoh, to export woods and spices from
me State Of Bnrmudez and to worl, os-
phalt deposits in the State. The con
ceSSlon gave exclusive rights as TO wood
ana spice exports, but not in the coso of
asphalt. This syndicate, in 1883. also
came INTO possession of tract Of land
containing asphalt deposits, about n
miles from the village Of Guarioucn 4
rev years later an organization of Won |
cAhclans obtained from their government |
certain mining rights in what is known |
as the La Felicidad concession. in ter-
titory adjoining the American syndi-
'a'cs last acquisition. The Venezuelan
company assigned its concession TO n
newly organized American corporation.
disputes soon arose as to the boundary
hctwecn the two concessions. Originally
. .hiS was understood to be the member
ing me Of foot path through the dense
'. WOODS. When the new company nut in
rs claim, it held that this line should
nave nave been straight. If so run. it would
lh,oW Lake Venezuela, which is very
valuable, into the grant of the new com
pahy ana out of the older one. which
lad held it for twelve years. President
Castro decided that it should be So RIM
ana ordered the property to be turned
over to the new company.
1t Is also stated on behalf of tbe Nav,
i ork ana Burmudez company that tbe
ehezu>lan Supreme Court win soon
pass upon the title Of the propertv and
,n't IL was premature for President
yastro ana his council to act in advance
y mat courts decision. This apnears
o nc the view entertained by Minister
.oomis and of the Administrator On.
'ials here. on
IN the face of the returns, of courso
ne United States has no apparent right
o interfere. 1t is the right as well asi ,
ne duty OF the senezuelan Government
maintain order in its territory and
D.