The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-01-25
MR.. BOWEN SET ASIDE
President Castro Breaks Relations With
American Minister.
THE ASPHALT ROW IS THE CAUSE.
VcnezueIa's Executive Has Lett Capital City
Attorney.General Moody is Studying the
Situation From All Points Of View. and
Warships May Be Sent TO the Venezuela
Coast in the Spriug.


Washington (Specia). - Diplomatic
intercourse between United States Min
lister Herbert w. Bowen, at Caracas,
Venezuela, and President Castro had
been broken, and as consequence the
relations between the United States and
Venezuela are in an exceedingly strained
condition.
The State Department received a long
cable dispatch from Minister Bowen, in
which he tells of the events leading up
to the departure OF President Castro
from Caracas and the consequent diplo-
matte rupture between the representa-
tive of the United States and Nenezue-
las Executive.
President Castro few days ago pre-
sented a proposal TO Minister Bowen
that the differences between the United
States and Venezuela be settled by the
appointment of an international court of
arbitration. Further than this. however,
Minister Bowen reports, President Cas-
tro in his note suggesting such court
questioned the right OF the United
States to NEEDLE in the asphalt affair,
which, he stated, was being settled by
the Venezuelan courts. From what can
be CLEANED at the State Department, Cas-
tro's note was not couched in the most
temperate language and not calculated
TO bring about better relations between
he L.,
Without ado, Minister Bowen says, he
absolutely (and the State Department
supports him in this action) rejected the
offer of President Castro. He held, and
properly, so the State Department says,
that there was no need Tor the appoint
ment of an international tribunal OF ar
btration, as a court filling all such func-
tons exists through the agreement of
the Pan-American Congress The fact
that President Castro questioned the
right" of the United States TO take
any action whatsoever in the asphalt
controversy and that he made the set
tlement OF this question OF right pre-
cedent upon the appointment of his in
ternational court of arbitration the State
Department characterizes as ridiculous
Minister Bowen reports that immed-
ately upon his reply to the note of Pres
ident Castro being received by him Cas-
tro left Caracas, temporarily breaking
off all diplomatic relations with the
United States through Minister Bowen.
What step President Castro will next
take Minister Bowen does not state, but
that the situation is critical the State
Department fully realizes
In the meanwhile Attorney General w.
H. Moody is making an exhaustive re-
view of the whole asphalt case with a
view to placing the United States in a
position to take drastic action against
President Castros Government in the
early spring. The latest acts OF Cas-
tro, as reported by Minister Bowen,
strengthen the President in his desire
TO once and for all bring Venezuela, as
represented by its President, TO "a prop
er respect for the rights of American
citizens holding properties in Venezue-
la" There seems TO be no doube in Off
cial circles here that the United States
would be perfectly in the right in inter
fering in the asphalt affair and pro-
tecting the rights of the American. as
phalt property holders With this end
i'll view, and reinforced by the opinion
OF Acknowledgement Moody, warshps
will go to Venezuelan ports within few
months, and thus strengthened Minister
Bowen will bring President Castro TO
terms.
Mr. Puldo, who until few days ago
was charge d'affaircs Of the Venezuelan
Legation and was succeeded by Mr. Vel
OF, secretary OF the Bureau OF American
Republics, has received a cablegram from
his Government announcing his appoint
ment as first secretary of the legation.
the position he formerly held This
means that Mr., Pulido will continue on
duty in Washington. He called at the
State Department today to ask if any
information had been received regard
ing the arbitration OF the asphalt case.
He has had no recent adviccs on this
subject. 1t appears that Mr.. Neloz is
appointed charge daffaircs on special
mission