The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-15
HOLDS VENEZUELA TO BLAME.
COLOMBIAN EX-MINISTER TELLS
or STRAINED RELATIONS.


sajs That Ills Country 10 Wiling 10 Make
Concessions TO secure Lasting Peace
and Aid in Commercial improvement
Other Nations Interested Affected,
Senior Lucas Caballero, Colombia's Min
lister TO Venezuela, Is now Ia this city,
having arrived here from Caracas, where
he has been vainly struggling to restore
friendly relations between the two repub-
lies. In a talk yesterday he said
Both countries have grievances against
one another, owing to police surveillance
on the boundary line arising from unsettled
political conditions, which used to he q
FIRE iuent occurrence in that region. The
Colombian Government, supported as II Is
by all political parties and with Gen. Reyes
as its leader, has undertaken to do away
with obsolete prejudices in It's home poll
cies, and to maintain friendly relations
with all civilized nations IL was in the
fulflment Of this programme that the
Colombian Government decided TO take
the preliminary steps toward an amioabie
settlement Of the pending differences, and
TO attain that aim was appointed Minister
Plenipotentiary TO Caracas
Was Gen. Castro informed as TO the
friendly Intentions Of your Government
Yes, he was. President Reyes had
made his views on the subject known 10
President Castro when the former was in
Venezuela year or so ago. Besides, my
instructions were mostly sent me 10y tele-
graph without using any special code,
and delivered in my hands by the Yene-
zuelsn officials.
do you not think that Colombias efforts
TO reeeta blish friendly relations were con-
sidered by Castro as a sign Of fearY'
Castro knows better than that. He
knows a great deal about Colombia; he is
we'll aware Of the support that all political
parties are now giving to President Reyes;
he knows that Colombia's population is
twice as large as that Of Venezuela; he
knows that Colombia IL not looking for
trouble; but at the same time he is we'll
acquainted with the courage and energy
Of Colombians. Loyalty cannot be mis-
taken for weakness. and President Castro
least Of all IL liable to make such mistake.
Sooner OF later Venez ella will wake up TO
the fact that her present policy hurts far
more her own interests than those Of Colom-
bia. And the latter may properly be called
universal.
Both countries have in common several
ma vigable riveH, the same having their
original sources in Colombia and afterward
crossing Venezuela until they finally reach
the sea. BY means Of these rivers a large
commerce is done, the benefit Of which is
common to the two countries. When once
these rivers are closed for navigation,
as - INC case now NeneLuela lOS6 Is
enormous and complete. whereas Colom-
bias loss is only momentary, as our com
meroe IL then done by another route,
through the Magdalena River"
is the commerce in that part Of the
owned by Colombians only?-
Not by any means. A very large part
Of IL is owned by Germans, Englishmen and
Americans, 80 that Colombia in urging the
opening OF those rivers is actually acting
in behalf Of all foreign interests as well
IA for the interests of a great many Yene-
zuelAns. The rivers affected are the Zulia,
which joins the northern part OF the Depart
ment Of Santander. in Colombia, with Lake
Maracaibo and the sea, and the Oinoco.
Commerce done by the Orinooo River
cannot bear comparison st now with
that done by the Zulia River, but 1t could
be much larger II Venezuela had a better
government. The opening Of the Orinoco
TO universal navigation would bring about
the colonization Of a very rich valley be-
longing 10 the two neighboring countries.
II has an extent Of 10000 square miles,
and IL IL at present littls less than a desert.
In order 10 attain these aims Colombia,
In spite OF her rights on the Orinoco River,
has been ready TO make Venezuela great
even Of territory, in exchange
for the free navigation Of the Orinoco."