The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-02
He WILL FIGHT.
Castro Says He viii Never Give
in to Allies.
VIII Exhaust All Peaceful
Means for Settlement.
THEN WILL COME WAR.
Would First Seize Trinidad and
Adjacent Places
Where Filibustering Expedi-
tiOns Have Been Outfitted.
French Squadron About to Re-
turn to Martinique.
THEN WILL COME WAR.

New York, Feb. 2-The Herald's
Caracas correspondent quotes President
Castro as saying in the course of an
interview:
7 can not grasp the news from
Washington. fear that the Vene-
zuelan conflict will be made a pretext
for world war. I have answered,
however, the demand for a preferential
treatment as follows:
. The Venezuelan government de-
sires equal treatment for every cred
itor. at the same time keeping in mind
and respecting its previous diplomatic
agreements and obligations.
LAS far as I can see the French claim
is absolutely perfect. yet the blockad-
ing powers seem to desire to invalidate
it. This is a. strange procedure indeed,
when you recall that the French Bel
gian and Spanish claims already have
that solemn sanction which the block
aiding powers pretend to be desirous
their own should receive.
yet am hopeful; yes, always hope
full Mr. Bowen has cabled me to be
prudent and patient. 1 shall be both
and we will exhaust all peaceful means
with the understanding that when that
has been done we win not give in but
viii fight.
We have concluded that if there is
no honor among nations, nor virtue in
international agreements we must de-
fend ourselves and to insure tranquil
lily we must take possession of TrlIi-
dad and other adjacent places from
which with the consent OF unfriendly
powers, dlibusteung expeditions nav c
started and have made Venezuela wei
ter in blood.
THE Ban Righ, which sailed from
England ana the expedition under
General Vidal which sailed from Trini-
dad landing arms two weeks ago at
as the Alabama claims if we had equal
rights with tae strong
New York, Feb. 2.-The members OF
the American. French and Spanish col
onjes have held q meeting, says q Her
aid dispatch from Caracas and address
ed protests to their legations against
the outrageous proposal of the block
aiding powers that the United States
should be the tool of Germany"
The French colony declared that
France cannot agree that in the
bankruptcy of Venezuela. Germany
should receive special treatment on a
loan which Is comparative only to the
Madame Humbert loan"
The correspondent asserts that he
has undoubted authority for stating
that the French Atlantic squadron has
been ordered to be in readiness to re-
turn to Martinique.
New York, Feb. 2.-President CAS-
tros troops have. says the correspon-
dent of the Herald at Curacao, met
with defeat at the hands of Venezuelan
revolutionists at a point 40 miles south
; of Caracas.
LONDON IS BEHIND.
London, Feb. 2.-The answer of Vene-
.zuela to the rejection by the allied powers
of her proposal to treat on an equality
the claims of all nations without giving
the allies preference has not yet been re-
r1e-
posaI been made It is not anticipated
here that the negotiations looking to a
compromise which are now going on in
Washington viii reach a head for at least
two days.