The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-19
THE ASPHALT TROUBLE.
The Outlook For Amicable Adjust
ment Is Not Good

Correspondence of the Associated Press ]
Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad, Tues
day, Feb. 5.--A correspondent of the As
ISOLATED Press has just returned from a
ten days stay in Caracas. Venezuela,
where he went to investigate the Vene-
zuelan situation. The outlook, as one sees
it at the Venezuelan capital is not good.
There IS a feeling of apprehension in the
air. The Castro government becomes
more unpopular and hostility to it is
talked rather freely and the substantial
and solvent people of the community
condemn the governments attitude to-
ward the New York and Bermudese As
phalt company.
pany, the correspondent is informed is
quietly gathering q strong force of well
armed and well drilled men at the pitch
lake. Ihese men are under command
of Major Rafferty,, formerly of the Sew
enty-il1rst New \ ork reglmenlitf a brave
encroachment, whether made by govern
ment or revolutionary troops; The United
states g1nboat scorpion has been ordered
to the pitch lake with orders not to allow
to the conclusion of the judicial investi-
CATION of the case now being made in
Washington.
The Venezuelan government IS endeay-
oring in every possible way to persuade
the New York and Bermudese company to
resort to the tribunals The refusal Of
the company to adopt that course is based
upon the knowledge that in Venezuela the
president or dictator changes the judges
in night and imprisons them If they do
not give the judgments they are hidden
to give. The correspondent talked with
Ave diplomats in Caracas They all as
serted that the United States government
a degree Of forbearance that almost
ceased to be virtue. They spoke high
" of the skin and tact with which Mn
lister LOOMS had met a delicate and diff
icut situation.
The diplomatic side of this business is
most important and interesting. The
United States, after receiving all of the
legal records and facts in the controversy
the company. decided to make a thor
ough investigation and sent for a COM
sixteen volumes. Pending the outcome
of this investigation. they asked the Ven
tesy between friendly nations to kindly
suspend the operation OF the decree dis
company TIL an Investigation could be
made This the Venezuelan government
and again refused. It was then made A
third time in an emphatic manner by
Minister LOOMS; n fact, it was put as
SORT or vigorous demand the third
time, but the result was the same Then
a protest was made. and that was ignored
ample power and authority to meet any
or all of these demands, If it saw fit.
of a large number of Incidents in which
the Venezuelan government has recently
nent of the United States Three months
ago the consular agent of the United
States at Barcelona vas thrust into
prison without cause. The United States
government demanded an apology. but
has not yet received it. A year earlier
the same consul was arrested and threat
ened with torture If he did not pay a
large sum of money to local military Of
ficials- A few months ago a German
merchant at Barcelona was tortured bv
officials there for the purpose of extort-
ing money from him The German GOV
eminent sent a cruiser there at once and
got satisfaction and kept the vessel four
days in Venezuelan waters.
The Italians have had men-of-xvar in
Venezuelan waters most of the time for
year.
Last year the American consul at La
Guayra was attacked and his life threat
ened. The United States government has