Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1903-01-30
CASTRO EASY TO PLEASE.
willing Either to Arbitrnte or Fight.
WhX Hs, Arrchfel IEnreinno..

Willing Either to Arbitrnte or Fight
| Why He Arrested FOrcigners.
When the New York Herald's special
correspondent in Venezuela called on
President Castro at La Victoria on Dec.
u and informed him that the whole
Venezuelan question had been referred
to The Hague tribunal, President Cas-
tro replied:
Il would. of course. have greatly pre-
ferred President Roosevelt as arbitrator
to the strange tribunal of which we in
Venezuela know nothing: but, convinced
OF the justice of our cause and the sin
certify of Cur advisers in Washington. we
willingly adopt the course they wish us
to pursue. Whatever it may be, we will
accept in good faith the decision OF the
august tribunal.
when all the facts are known, 1 think
the world will see we have acted we'll
within our rights and with surprising
sangfroid. The impetuous conduct of
Germany has certainly tended to bring in
ternational law and older civilizations into
disrespect among us. and this regret
II do not want to be painted better than
am" continued the general, land
frankly admit that for Il moment under
the surprise of the first aggression of the
powers l perhaps lost my head in order
Ing the arrest of all Germans and English
My intentions We're good, and it was only
In listening to Mr.. Bowen that saw
what an unfavorable Interpretation might
be placed upon this step.
My purpose has been misunderstood.
wished to place these foreigners under re-
straint not only for our protection. but
for their own safety, for it was to be eX-
pected that when the news of the out
RACES perpetrated in La Guayra and the
bloodshcd in Puerto Cabello reached Ca
racaS demonstrations and perhaps acts of
violence against the fellow countrymen of
the aggrcssors would follow. and should
add it was my intention to send them out
In safety by the first neutral ship
II do not regret having accepted Mr..
Bowen'S generous suggestion, but l am
more and more convinced that from the
first moment the joint action of the al
lies constituted state OF open warfare.
Indeed a few days later MIR. Balfour In
the house of commons. when he con-
fessed that the peaceful blockade was a
diplomatic nct.cn, admitted. though indi-
rectly that i was fully within my rights
even when 1 acted on the inspiration Of
the surprising news.
please tell the world that we Venezu-
clans are ready to nrbitrate all the ques-
tions in dispute or we are willing to fight
IT the attitude of the government In
Washington had not compelled the Eu-
ropean governments to desist from their
your money or your life policy, there
would have been war, and of course
there may be war yet. there being pro-
verbally many a slip between the cup
and the lip. but we are stronger now than
ever before. Since Dec. 8. 100000 loyal
sons of the country have volunteered for
the national defense and. believe me, ev-
cry Venezuelan is born soldier. The
vastness and the wildness of our country,
abounding in game. all tend to make our
sons markSmen."
"But what about the blockade and the
lack of ammunition?" inquired.
1.-The blockade!' laughed Castro. "All
the navies in the world cannot blockade
| the coast of Venezuela as long as the
traders of Trinidad and Curacao survive
Those hucksters in human blood. who
have started many revolutions and grown
| fat on the civil wars of my poor country
have no sentiment of patriotism. During
| the last ten days l have received more
| than dozen offers from English and
German traders alike to land arms, they
| taking the risk of seizure at the hands of
/ the famous blockading squadron