Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-01-05
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION.

THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION.
IT is now said in Washington that any
hour may bring the news from
Venezuela that President Castro has
been forced out. This may be ac-
complished by means OF the revolution
led by General Matos or by means Of
pressure causing Castro's voluntary abdi-
cation, which would mean his fight, if
possible, from Venezuela.
The State Department received a
cablegram yesterday from Minister
Bowen, the purport Of which was that
crisis had been reached in Castro's S
tenure of Office. Minister Bowen repre-
senis a condition of chaos in Venezuela
and especially in Caracas, which is
growing steadily and rapidly mere seri-
Gus.
One of the significant points con-
irmed by Mr.. Bowen is that 81, 400 is
the total sum available in the Venezuelan
exchequer. The Department of Finance
is thus PROSTATE. Revenues have been
cut OF, supplies have ceased. The
pinch of the blockade is being felt
everywhere. The payments to the army
are largely in arrears. The soldiers
are no longer being fed. Therefore
Castro's troops, who are for the most
part simple poems, ignorant of what they
are fighting for, are likely to desert when
they learn there is no pay or food in
sight and get over to the revolutionary
armies, which are reported to be well
equipped as a result of the covert assist
ance rendered them by England and
Germany.
The revolution has been greatly aided
by the blockadipg nations. At several
ports the revolutionists, it is understood,
are permitted to have fcee access to the
interior. Castro is powerless to obstruct
them in ehecting landings, because he
no longer has a navy.
The State Department has no iDfor-
nation bearing upon any recent military
operations, but The department is pre-
pared 10 learn at any momentthat Matos
has carried the revolution and that Cas-
trO is either a prisoner or in flight.
The powers feel that Castro is a strong
man ami one who will fight them ut
every turn. The revolutionary move
ment was crushed by him six weeks ago.
General Matos retired to Curacao. When
the coercive programme was begun
England and Germany began to extend
a covert assistance to the revolutionists.
This neutralized the effect of Castro's
appeal for all Venezuelans to stand to-
getaer against the invading foe.
Matos has all along played for the
favor of the European powers by declar-
ing that if he gained the seat of Presi-
dent he would pay Venezuela's debts.
The powers believe he will do so. They
believe he can float a loan where Castro
could not get a cent.
Whether or not Matos would carry
any money into the Venezuelan treasury
should he become President is not known.
1t was reported that when President An
drade was overthrown Matos, who was
his minister of finance, fled to Curacao
with all the money in the Treasury, aggre-
eating several million dollars.
Officials in Washington arespeculative
as to what effect change in the govern
ment at Caracas will have on the arbitra-
ton proposition. The principal question
Isl
"Will not Matos, if he is landed in
the Presidential palace, largely through
European influence, promise in return to
pay the German and English claims
without arbitration?
General Matos might be inclined to do
so, but the United States in such an
event would probably exert its influence
toward a settlement by arbitration, so
that all claims might be satisfied. Other
wise Matos's promise to pay would proba-
bly, be made only to the greater nations
-England, Germany and 1taly-while
the lesser powers would bestill neglected
A number of propositions have been
made to the Venezuelan authorities by
syndicates looking to funding OF the
Venezuelan debt. Five syndicates are
now USSlTOuS Vi uOdtillS a ShNNu~'""
loan, and all the guarantee they ask is
that Castro shall retire from the Presi-
dency and leave the country. One OF
these syndicates is represented by the
Seligmans, another by the International
Banking Corporation and there are three
other groups of capitalists desirous of
assuming the debt for a consideration.
They have all applied to the State De-
partment and asked for the diplomatic
Offices of the United States to put them
in touch with the Venezuelan Govern
ment. The department has refused to
act as an intermediary or even as an in
troducer. This government seeks to
hold aloof from all negotiations Of that
sort, and particularly from those which
have to do with the supplying OF the
funds for the payment of foreign claims.
Unconscious from Group.
Dnrino n sudden and terrible attack of crOIp