Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-24
DEMANDS ANSWER
FROM venezuela
UNCLE SAM SENDS NOTE TO CAS-
TRIO REGARDING PENDING
TROUBLES.
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE
AGGRESSIVE ACTION
Unless Questions in Dispute Are Sub
mitted to Arbitration State De-
partment Will Take Steps to Sc
cure Justice.

Willemstad. Island of Curacao, March
22.-The Venezuelan government, it is
announced from Caracas, has received
note from the American minister, Nh.
Bowen, requiring an answer as to wheth-
er Venezuela will arbitrate the questions
pending. and saying that in case Of re-
fusal the United States will feel free to
take the steps which may be necessary
to secure justice.
Acting Under Instructions.
Washington, March 22.-In calling
upon President Castro for an answer
to his proposition to submit to arbitra-
ton the issues between the United States
and Venezuela, Minister Bowen is act
ing in accordance with specific instruc-
tons from the state department which
have recently been placed in his hands.
Mr.. Bowen made proposition of this
kind to the Venezuelan foreign Office
several months ago, and there was an
exchange of notes on the subject, but
its further consideration was cut off by
the abrupt departure from the capital
of President Castro, at moment when
his own decision was required.
II President Castro rejects this last
offer of Mr.. Bowen to arbitrate these
cases it is expected that he will prompt
ly report that fact to the state depart
ment and it will be determined what
course to pursue. The minister's pre-
sentiment of this matter, therefore, is
not an actual ultimatum, for the way Is
still open for further negotiations If
the department decides that the time
has not yet arrived to withdraw it's min
lister and adopt some coercive measures.
Must Act Soon.
Their Is great reluctance on the part Of
the officials to the adoption Of the latter
course, but the situation Is believed te
be such that unless the department Ii
willing to submit to the complete eff
facement of the American claims some
action must be taken very soon. The
reported arrangement whereby Presl
dent Castro, through his agent, Senol
Velutina, has agreed to set apart so pei
cent. of all the Venezuelan customs re-
ceIpts outside of the port Of Is
Guayra and Port Gabelie to sat.
isfy British and German bond,
holders, will, If contaminated, 1t Is
feared. make it impossible to secure q
single cent from Venezuela for the pay
| ment of any just American claims, for
there will be no surplus. the remaining
so per cent. Of the revenues being re-
auired for the support Of the venezue-
Ian government.
Mr.. Bowen's arbitration proposition
is not, 1t Is said here, dependent In aay
way upon the proceedings in the Ven,
ezuelan courts in the future relative tt
the asphalt case, and 1t is believed thai
he has moved quickly. as reported, and
without waiting for courts. in order to
forestall a ratification of the foreign
bond agreement and conserve the
rights at American claimants so that
they will not suffer thereffom;
No Warships Sent.
Paris, March o.. - The foreign Of
flee says the French minister at Cara
cas- has not presented an ultimatum to
yenezuela and no French warships have
been sent to Venezuela. The statement
to that effect results from the publica-
ton in London newspapers of dispatch
es saying the presentation of an ultls
matum had been followed by the dis.
| patch of two warships. The officials
here are surprised and displeased at the
reports which they construe as tend
ing to force the hand of France into 4
more aggressive and belligerent policy
than anything France c9ntemplates.