The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-10-27
VENEZUELAN TROUBLE.
MAY BE AvERTEp BY FRIENDLY
INTERVENTION.
United States Minister Russell In
strueted to Use His Good offices
For Friendly Settlement.

Washington, d. c., Oct 24.-In
furtherance OF Secretary Roots efforts
to bring about a pacific settlement of
the diplomatic controversy between
France and Venezuela, resulting from
the refusal of President Castros gov
eminent to longer hold friendly rela-
tions with M. Taigny, the French
charge d'affaires at Caracas, United
States Minister Russell, at Caracas,
has been instructed to use his good Of
fees to arrange an amicable under
standing. For this purpose he will have
an interview with President Castro.
Because of Minister Russell's popular
ity In Venezuela, acquired during a
residence of eight years as secretary of
the American legation, and of his per-
sonal friendship for Castro, 1t is be-
lieved that much good will result from
his efforts, and that the threatened
naval demonstration by France against
Venezuela will be averted.
Minister Russell has been made fully
acquainted with the attitude of France,
as made known to this government by
M. Jusserand, the French ambassador
here, during several conferences with
Secretary Root. That attitude is one
of determination to support M. Taigny,
who, in forwarding to the Venezuelan
foreign Office his note of protest against
the seizure Of the property of the
French Cable Co., did so only in ac-
cordance with instructions from his
home government.
The French embassy has authorized
the following statement
I'VE are extremely happy to hear OF
the very kind intervention of the
United States, and we are sure that un-
der the circumstances France would
have been glad to render the same
service to the United States. And the
news of the intervention seems to US
all the better, because 1t will, without
any doubt, enable President Castro to
realize the error made by his minister
of foreign affairs, and probably will
have the result that France shall not
have to take recourse to such methods,
as she should dislike very much to use,
but for which, in case of need, all
preparations have been made"
1t was to the note Of protest filed by
M. Taigny against the seizure Of the
property of the French Cable Co. that
the Venezuelan government objected,
and Y. Barra, the Venezuelan foreign
minister, sent him reply declaring
that he would no longer recognize M.
Taigny in his diplomatic capacity.
This action of the Venezuelan govern
ment in treating M. sTaigny's note as
a personal one, and Furnishing him for
its alleged criticism of the Venezuelan
courts, is considered by France to be
derogatory to her dignity, and she de-
mands that M. Taigny should be again
received, even II Immediately after
wards he should be transferred by
France to some other post.
On the other hand, Venezuela con-
siders that M. Taigny's note cast GER
tain reflection upon the integrity of the
Venezuelan courts, and incidentally
President Castro maintains his right
to declare any foreign representative
that is not agreeable to him as per-
soma non grata and to refuse to re-
ceive him.
This is the quarrel that Minister
Russell has been called upon to adjust.
In the meantime, French warships are
collecting at Martinique, the French
naval headquarters in the Caribbean,
ready to make hostile demonstration
against President Castro's government
in case 1t should prove to be impervi-
ous to reason.