Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
FOREIGNERS RELEASED.
President Castro Tells Minister Bowen
Thew Have Been Liberated.

The following cablegram was received at
the State Department today from United
States Minister Bowen, dated at Caracas
today:
"The president informs me that he has
released all of the German and British who
were arrested
This was the only advice that came to
the State Department overnight as to the
situation in Venezuela, but it was welcome,
for the officials felt that by releasing these
civilians President Castro has diminished
greatly the most dangerous factor in the
problem Had he insisted on retaining them
in Jail the allies must have dispatched
force to the capital of Venezuela, and war
outright would have ensued. AS 1t Is. the
officials here prefer to regard the status as
not one of war, providing the allies adhere
to their original program of a peaceful
blockade" perhaps followed by the tempo
rary seizure of Venezuelan custom houses.
1t Is realized that the attack upon the
German legation in Caracas last night.
with the other incidents involving the dis
regard of the amenities Of civilized strife,
may affect the disposition OF the allies to
refrain from a formal declaration Of war,
but so far the status Is not such
Sinking Of Vessels Regretted.
Details of the sinking Of the Venezuelan
navy by the allied naval forces are awaited
with interest here. and the officials could
not but express their regret and surprise
that 1t had been found necessary to pro-
ceed to such extremes. Nor could they find
any satisfactory explanation for this ap-
parently wanton destruction of property,
which might have been held until the end
Of the present disturbances or appropriated
as set-offs against the British and German
claims.
But nothing has yet occurred to induce
the State Department to change the policy
of non-fnterference which it adopted at the
beginning and all that 1t feels called upon
TO do Is to watch developments closely,
looking only to the observance by the allies
of the original understanding that there
must be no appropriation Of Venezuelan
territory as the outcome OF the present
struggle.
Conference at the White House.
The President is showing particular in
terest in the situation, and this morning he
called Secretary Hay away from his regular
Thursday diplomatic reception to confer at
the White House respecting Venezuela. The
chairman Of the two congressional commit
tees charged with the care of foreign affairs
called at the State Department during the
forenoon to talk over the Venezuelan de-
velopments. 1t is fully expected that the
subject will soon appear before Congress
thr fIgh the introduction OF resolutions OF
inqGiry and declaration of sympathy by
certain elements in the two houses, which
never fall to take advantage of an oppor-
tunity to score European nations which
become involved in American affairs.
Minister Bowen's Course Approved.
The State Department is SO far particu-
larly pleased with the energetic yet dis
Greet manner in which Minister Bowen at
Caracas has acted In very dif1cult and
delicate position. It Is again declared that
there was absolutely no warrant OF custom
for declining the request OF Great Britain
and Germany to look after their interests
in Venezuela. and Mr.. Bowen undertook
that task. well knowing that 1t was likely
to make him very unpopular In the country
How well he has succeeded up to this point
Is shown by the release Of the British and
German subjects first arrested, and that
was accomplished by Mr.. Bowen without
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