The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-23
INDIGNANT AT CASTRO'S ACTION Naval Demonstration May Yet
 be Made AMERICA 10 COOPERATE Troubles Arises Over the Refusal of Venezuela to Deal With the
 French Charge, M.
 Talgny.
AMERICA 10 COOPERATE

Paris, september ZA-lne OHenSlVe dt- titude of Venezuela against M. Taigny, the French charge daffaires at Caracas, has aroused, lnd gnation in official quar- ters here. Although the ministry has not yet taken definite action, 1t is said in the highest quarters that Premier Rouvier undoubtedly will demand that Venezuela disavow the offensive action and adopt course conformable with the usual courtesies of diplomatic intercourse The Venezuelan authorities are now pretend ing to show that their action was directed against M. Taigny personally and not against the French government, but the officials here do not acspt the distinction between M. Tagnys personal and of ficial capacity. He has high standing at the foreign office where he recently served and there Is no intention here to permit Venezuela to make a scapegoat of him
 The official directly charged with handling Venezuelan questions explained the general status of the controversy as follows
 Does Not Question Decision.
 Venezuela supports the closing of the French Cable oompanys inland stations on the ground of the decision of the Vene- zuelan courts. France does not question the general right of the courts, but main tains that the decision of the courts con- tained nothing authorizing the executive branch to seize and shut up the cable stations.
 Moreover only a day before shutting up the inland stations Venezuela gave assurances that General Velutini, the Venezuelan minister at Paris, would take steps to satisfactorily adjust the ques- ton. Therefore, M. Taigny protested on the ground that the courts decision did not justify closing stations. This protest was not M Taigny's personally, but fol- lowed specific instructions from the for eign office Therefore 1t Is impossible to raise a personal issue. separate ver- bal protest was made against the ex- pusion of Manager Brun of the French Cable company on the ground that the right to expel foreigners does not apply to MT. Brun. who was permanently dom iciled in Caracas It Is to be expected that demand will be made that Ven ezuela dlsavow the action taken. The sub sequent course of France will depend upon Venezuelas reply"
 Places Orders for Guns.
 Inquiry makes 1t practically certain that Venezuela has placed orders at the Crue- got works for eight field batteries and four mountain batteries, the latter con sistlng of four guns each.
 It was announced from Caracas Sep tember 20 that the Venezuela government had that day made the following reply to the protest lodged September 19. by NJ Taigny, the French charge d'affaires. against the closing of the land stations of the French Cable company, and the ex- pulsion of the manager of the company, M Brun.
 "The government holds documents prov ing that the French Cable company has the result of the judicial pro- ceedings brought against 1t. The gov ernment Is only awaiting to establish new between it and the company M Taigny, the French d'affairs, knows this and therefore the protest can be only considered as an act of personal hostility
 For this reason the government will abstain from treating with the French government through M Talgny."
 Reflects Official Sentiment.
 The semi-ofhcial Temps this evening printed leading article renecting official sentiment on the subject It said that on Venezuela's withdrawing her offensive refusal to deal with him. If the with drawal Is made and President Castro makes an apology, the negotiations will continue If Venezuela does not accede 1t will be unwise to immediately break off diplomatic relations by the withdraw al of M. Taigny since this would leave French interests unprotected The bet ter course will be for France and the United States to make a joint naval dem- onstration.
 Continuing the paper says: Already to our knowledge the cabinets of Wash ington and Paris have examined certain questions. Mutual confidence win render easier an understanding for efficacious joint intervention. This intervention in which firmness will not exclude modera- tion and prudence, appears today to be essential"
 The authorities here say that exchanges will occur at Washington relative to the