The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-14
IF CASTRO REFUSES TO PAY
VIII the Powers Fight Venezuela :-Rc.
turn Of Our Secret Militia { o minis sion.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 13,--Capt. Chauncey b,
Humphrey of the Third Infantry and First
Lieut.. Ernest Van d. Murphy Of the Twenty
seventh Infantry arrived in Washington
this afternoon from Venezuela and the
lsthmus of Panama, where they had been
engaged Oh an important military mission.
They went directly from the railroad station
to the Division Of Military Information,
the secret service branch of the War De-
partment, and submitted oral reports.
Mterward they went to hotel, but re-
peated efforts to see them there ana at other
places proved unavniling
While preserving discree; silence con-
corning the nature and significance Of the
mission intr,isted to Capt. Humphrey
and Lieut., Murphy, officials who are familiar
with the instructions given to them admit
that The mission was exceedingly important.
Despite the secrecy maintained 1t was
learned that the two officers were accredited
to the United States Legation at Caracas
as military attaches, but this was done
merely to give them an official status and
permit theIa thereby better to perform the
work with which they had been intrusted
They went to Venezuela in June. but
spent little time in Caracas. going directly
into the interior OF the country and making
Il thorough examinat ton Of the matters into
which they had been directed to inquire.
Afterward they went 20 the lsthmus OF
Panama, where they spent q week in OBJ
tanning information which the Department
was very anxious TO secure. While there
they had conferences with Major Black OF
the United States Engineers, who was sent
to the 1sthmus In connection with the
Panama Canal and who Il said to have
watched political conditions closely.
SO careful were the military authorities
here to prevent anything being known
concerning their unusual action in sending
two army officers to the Caracas legation
~ military attaches that the fact Of their
assignment was not announced. Nor was
the State Department, through which the
appointments to the legation STAFF had to DO
made, taken into the confidence Of tho army
administration. These and other things
show how the mission Of Capt. Murphy was
regarded at the War Department.
From what can be learned here tho
mission was mainly tho outcome OF appre-
hension. based on Information, that the
foreign complications in which Venezuela
became involved less than year ago were
merely the forerunner Of more important
complications that might seriously Involve
the United States.
The Panama visit was merely side issue,
born probably of the prospect Of the seces-
sion of the States Of Panama and Cauca
from the United States OF Colombia on &C.
count Of the rejection of the Canal Treaty
by the Colombian Congress. That 1t might
under certain circumstances be regarded as
necessary Ivy this Government to build the
canal without Colombis's consent has been
admitted as o possibility.
Reports which have been coming TO the
Government for several months from official
sources in Venezuela represent that the
prospect Of a continuance Of peace be-
hat url ENtr
which have claims against 1t are by no means
assured.
In fact there are indications that there
will be resumption Of the difficulties
which caused Great Bri, ain. Germany and
Italy to resort toIcoercive measures in
December last.
Word has been received here that the
Spanish Minister has withdrawn from
Caracas in a huff on account Of alleged i'll
treatment in connection with the settle
menr Of Spain . claim against Verezuea.
Information has come to this Govern
ment also within the past forty-eight hours,
that the foreign legations at Caracas are
greatly excited over reports that Presiden Mt
Castro has been pocketipg part OF the 80
per cent of the Gust oms receipts Of the ports
Of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello, which.
under the protocols signed in Washington
this year by Herbert ". Bowen, the Vene-
zuelan peace pleuipo,entiary, and the diplo-
matte representatives OF foreign NATIONS,
must be set aside monthly until such time
as the Tribunal OF Arbitration, now in ses
sion at The Hague, directs how it shall be di-
vide d among Venezuela 5 national creditors.
During the sessions Of the Claims COM
missions in Caracas the foreign members
of them were numerically cartooned and
attacked in Caracas newspapers, and much
feeling was aroused in the foreign con-
tingent.
Ii is true that the Government suppressed
the two newspapers which were the chief
offenders. and showed the requisite official
courtesy to the foreign Commissioners,
but the suspicion was prevalent that the
| Venezuelan authorities secretly approved
| the course OF the anti-foreign press.
| How important military information
concerning Venezuela would be to the
| United States il there is to be a resumption
of trouble between tho South American
republic and its powerful foreign creditors
! is very apparent
Nearly all the time Capt. Humphrey and
| Lieut. Murphy were in the country was
spent away from Caracas. It is realized
| here that should Venezuela repudiate
her pledges to pay the claims Of European
nations, a moro serious condition would
ensle than that which prevailed when Eng
| land and her allies were blockadlng Vene-
| zuelsn ports.
! Such action on Venezuela's part might
be construed a. involving the honor and
not merely the pocket books Of foreign
| Governments and the establishment Of q
peace blockade would not be enough
! ,;,r,,