The Topeka state journal., 1903-03-23
CASTRO HAS QUIT
Places His Resignation in the
Hands Of Congress.
Is Believed to Have a String
Attached to 1t.


Caracas. March 28-President Castro
has resigned. He placed his resigna ton
Of the presidency of the republic Of
Venezuela in the hands of the president
of congress after reading the presiden-
/ Iial message
Washington, March 23zThe first init
nation received by Secretary Hay OF
president CaStro'S resignation was given
+ him by the Associated Press dispatch
announcing the fact He would not dis
cuss the matter. however. beyond stat
{ ing that the news was unexpected. Her
/ bert W Bowen, Venezuela's plenipOten-
tiary here, likewise had not been IN
formed until shown the dispatch. Until
advised, he said he would be unable to
/ give expression to any views on the sub
ject-
From an authoritative quarter. how
ever, it was learned that this move on
the part Of President Castro has long
+ been contemplated Representa- tons
were made TO him several months ago
by the leaders of Venezuela that his res
+ ignation would have the effect Of enab-
ling the people OF that country to pre-
sent solid front to the world in the
matters in controversy with the several
powers.
The statement was made that the res
ignatiOn is the result Of a secret agree
ment with the leaders referred to that
President Castro should temporarily re-
hnquish his Office pending the adjust
ment Of the matters which Minister
Bowen has in hanud. It was intimated
by the Associated Press informant that
while President Castro nominally gives
up his Office, 1t IS the intention to keep
it within the family by an arrangement
TO make CastrO's brother vice president,
so that he would succeed to the presi-
dency- II is the belief here based on
information which has been up to now
kept inviolate, that the present plan IS
TO allow President Castro to remain out
of Office for a short time and then re-
elect him at the next election Mr. Pu-
lido. the Venezuelan charge d affaireS. Is
absent from Washington. and il was
stated, is now on his way to the Vene-
Zueian capital
New York March 23-In the ordinary
course Of events President Castro S
term would have ended February %,
1903 He was elected president OF Nene-
zuela in February Of last year for six
years. beginning February 20, 1902. He
+ mad been elected provisional president
! Of Venezuela on March so. 1901, by the
+ constituent assembly. Senior Castro,
when the presidency changed hands
some time previous to that date. had
j proclaimed himself president and the
+ United States government. in Novem-
/ Der. 1899, had officially recognized the
+ de factO government headed by him
/ The action Of the constituent assembly
T legalized his position and invested him
with the full powers CT a Dresidentia
ruler to the limit of its authority u
to that time while being generally rec
+ ognized as president of Venezuela. he
had in reality been simply dictator OF
the republic. A year later. as already
stated. the Venezuelan congress ratified
his election and regularly installed hin
as president of Venezuela for a term Ol
six years dating from February 20. 1902
Washington. March 23-It is believed
+ here that Great Britain, Germany an6
+ italy practically have agreed TO thE
amendments to be proposed to the draf1
of The Hague protocol and since the
British ambassador has received his in.
structions as to the changes 10 be pro-
+ posed, it IS thought that instructions ts
Baron Sternberg and the Italian ambas-
sador may be received here probably bs
the middle Of this week
Just what amendments the British
ambassador has been directed to pro
pose Is not stated, and their charactel
may not be made public until negOtia.
tiOns are again taken up with Mr
! Bowen.