New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-24
AFFAIRS IN VENEZUELA.
Vie1cs of President Castro on Cur
rent Topics.

GFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE-I
Caracas. Venezuela, May 16
President Cipriano Castro who in the last three
years has become a conspicuous figure IN the
worlds politics, is the strenuous man OF South
America. he Is a man Of action rather than OF
words, and this coupled with deep seated disdain
for tnteTyiewers account Of former misinterpre-
taton OF his words, has for time caused him
10 refrain from expressing his views through the
medium OF the press Yesterday. however, the
President deviated from this rule and talked with
The Tribune correspondent the affairs most
important n Venezuela at the present time.
The man who few years ago dehed with some
success the attacks OF three European powers
coping at the time with internal strife and
now bringing order 10 Ven ezuele- which long has
been II a chaotic state. IS about five feet five
inches In height and has extraordinarily broad
shoulders He has 4 high. intellectual forehead.
firm mouth and piercing eyes He speaks with
great ra2idity, and always 10 the point. not in
dU1g1ng n superhuOus words. sad President
Castro to the correspondent OF The Tribune:
Notwithstanding the difficulties encountered the
general financial political and administrative con
diton OF Venezuela 81 good II is generally known
that the funds deposited IN the Bank OF England
Tor the payment Of the foreign claims IN good
condition The obligations which Venezuela has
contracted will be fully The 50 per cent stip-
Lated by protocol. covering this point has been
paid and Will continue 10 bs paid punctuaLy. AZ
present however, il Is possible to detins the
ume which vii DO required TO complete the set
total amount OF the claims IS not yet known and
also that the 90 per OF the customs revenues
varies according 10 imports / do NOT consider a
loan Indispensable for the reorganization OF tho
debts, but II II Is offered on good conditions per-
haps would havo objection 70 accepting Il
The completion o: the Panama Canal Is u ths
greatest Importance for the development OF urver-
sal commerce and the strengthening OF friendly
relations between tho nations OF the American con-
tlnent- our relations with Colombia are on a
footing OF the utmost cordially. and with Panama
too. enjoy friendly relations AS 10 our favor
ing treaties with other nations. Venezuela fayors
and accepts such necessary for the ad-
yancement OF her friendly relations. oonuercs and
navigation"
President CaEtro declared when asked es 10 what
action Venezuela would take against The asphalt
trust:
The tribunals Of justice OF the republic viii in
due time determine the revolutionary response
blIity OF the asphalt trust IN Venezuela"
Continuing the President said:
Now as 70 the withdrawal OF General Joss
Manuel Hernandez from the ofice OF minister az
washington 1 VIII say this he withdrew from
politics account OF the publicity given 10 cer-
tain letters which were exchanged between and
perhaps because OF MS personal interests"
There Is a1oot In several OF the South
American republics plan for the formation OF
& union for fraternity and mutual protection.
President Castro is Of the chief promoters Of
this important and lar reaching movement IN
discussing IL. no said,
4 should say that there IS nobody who in prfn-
ciple does not accept this DeRehcent idea, taking
into consideration, among many other reasons,
that the interests OF the Latin-AmericaI republics
the Their close and cordial union in
poses itself : necessity when observe that
some or me otlS 5 au2as ono themselves 70 Oh
what they claim from the relatively weak