New-York tribune., 1905-08-15
ALLOWS FRENCH CLAIMS.
JUDGE PLUfLEY'S AWARD
Referee Passes s6S6, ,eIs Of $685.
ek5 Demanded from VenezueLa.

Mortified. Vt Aug 14.-Clstms by the
French government against Venezuela asgre-
eating over S636,212. have been allowed by
Frank Plumley, 10 whom they hao been re-
ferred for decision and final adjudication MT
Plumleys decision was announced here to-day
10 reuresentatives ~ the two governments.
Count Periu de Ia Rocca and Dr. Jose de j.
Paul.
Eight cases. involving claims aggregating 81
2l5245 against the government Of Venezuela
were submitted to Mr. Plumley- Two were dis
missed for want OF equity and one was dis
allowed. The claims are for damages alleged TO
have been sustained by French citizens con-
Quoting mercantile enterprises in Venezuela dur
ing The insurrection % 1901. Mr.. Plumley's de-
csio- IS anal
The largest amount allowed by the referee was
SsGs s52. given 10 the Company General. Of
Orinoco. On a claim OF S1.469.907.
The heaviest reduction made in any claim was
in the case Of the French company, owners OF
the Venezuelan railroad, I'm which damages TO
the amount Of s.. .567.2l9 were cut by the referee
10 ST4 SEQ The French government supported
this claim in its entirety; Venezuela offered to
pay S46.5s2.
The other claims settled were:
Pierf Domisique claiming S274007 receives
S57 900. The French government offered to
settle for Sl15.S0o. and Venezuela TO give S3l--
SIC
The heirs Of Juan Mammal claiming S3se.no0
received Sl9.300 France offered TO settle for
$4,000 and Venezuela rejected the claim.
Jules Brum claiming S96Joo received $4,000
France supported the claim in full: Venezuela
rejected it in fun.
Mr Plunley was chosen IS referee, IL is be-
Heved on account Of his connection with the
British-Venezuelan and the Holland-Venezuelan
mixed commissions. which sat in Caracas in
1908. in connection with which opinions given
by him are said TO have established two prece-
dents in international law
The first claim which came before the commits
sion that Of Jules Brum. manager OF the
railroad. BrUm was wounded by 6 bullet, which
entered his house at Maracaibo at the -etaking
II that city by federal troops Mr.. PluHlley
holds that this injury was not a loss OF war in
the circumstances.
Friedrich & Co.. acting for the Orinoco
Asphalt Company. had q claim for the alleged
unlawful detention OF the company's vessels in
Venezuelan ports. The referee held that the
detention was lawful
The third claim, that OF the heirs OF Juan
Mammal was based on the wounding Of that
person by a Venezuelan officer while the two
were in the camp Of the commanding general
Mammal died Of lockJaw, the result OF the
wound, leaving large number OF brothers and
sisters none OF whom were dependent on him
only one Of the claimants was OF French ma
rionality. The allowance was made largely on
The ground that Venezuela might have made
proper amends TO & sister republic for an other
wise unpublished wrong done TO q ritizen OF the
latter.
Antoine Fabani made a claim for injuries 70
himself and business. When II was heard in
1896 by the President Of the Swiss Federation
he dismissed II. Faban3 held that the President
had placed too strict construction on treaty
bearing on the case. but Judge Plumley held
that there had been error. and that the de-
cision OF the Swiss President and his award
formed bar 10 further proceedings.
Thomas Msssinia had valid claim when he
was living. he being a Frenchman. The heirs.
however were natives and residents OF Venez-
ueia. This constituted them Venezuelans under
the Venezuelan law and Frenchnen under the
law of Frnnce. AIr. Plumley holds that the law
OF 6orricile must prevail. and that the heirs
Rad no place before tribunal formed 10 hear
srd decide claims on account OF injuries done
70 Frenchnnen n Venezuela
The seventh claim that OF the Company
General Of Ortnoco. The company had received
valuable concessions from Venezuela. which were
rescinded by the High Federal Court Of that
nation. The courts action was urged as a bar
rier 10 ali claims by the company for damages.
This contention was sustained, but allowance Is
made for injuries received subsequent TO the
conuenceTnent OF the suit and while II was
PENDING before the court
The French company owning The Nenez-
uelau Railroad in its claim declared that II had
been ruined by the wrongful action OF the
Venezuelan government. and that, therefore, the
whole value Of the railroad should be paid In
damages Venezuela exonereted by MT
Pluuley from the principal charge. but was held
liable for certain damages and Indebtedness