New-York tribune., 1905-01-22
DEFENDS CASTRO'S ACT.
Venezuelan Jurist Says Trip Is for
HIS Health.

DR. Jose Paul vice-president of the Court of
Cessation. or Supreme Court of Venezuela. arrived
on the steamer Philadelphia from La Guayra, and
is staying at the Hotel Gerard. DIR. Paul is a
native of Venezuela. but has spent several winters
in New-York He comes to the country at this
time the Venezuelan member of the Franco
Venezuelan Claims Commission. The French rep
resentative, Count Peretti de la Rocca arrived
La Gascogne. The two commissioners after visit
Ing Washington will go TO Northfeld. VT, whore
the disputed claims will be presented before Frank
Plumley who was about two months ago named
umpire by the concurrent choice of President
Loubet of France and President Castro of Ven
ezuela
Besides having represented his government for
five years Minister the five republics of Cen
trail America and later Minister Pienlpotentiary
on a special mission before the Holy See at Rome.
Dr. Paul served the representative of Venezuela.
the Claims Commissions under both the Paris
protocol of 1902 and the Washington protocol OF
1903 Under the latter he acted with William E
cambridge on the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Commission,
Of which Henri Barge of Holland the umpire.
Mr. Plumley the umpire appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt the mixed commissions of Eng
land and the Netherlands in adjudcating the claims
that accrued against Venezuela. subsequent to May
q. 1885, under the Washington protocol
THE claims which are now to be presented be-
fore Umpire Plumley." said DR.. Paul. "are such
as came under the protocol Of Paris Originally
there were seventy-ive claims. extending over a
ana aggregatng over 81 0cOoo0 bovars o. Or the fSe
same number Of francs. Commissioner Rocca and
myself met in Caracas year ago, and an
agreement on siXty-seven of the claims aggregat-
ing about 100000 bolivars, upon which the total
amount allowed 100000 bOlivarS, from which
1t will be clear that the claims are greatly oXag-
gerated. and, when fully considered are certain to
be largely discounted There are eight claims ag-
gregating about 100000 bovars upon which Com
missioner Rocca and 1 could not reach an agree
ment. The presentation of the first of these claims
NIL begin before the umpire at Mortified Feb
ruary l, and two or three months will probably be
occupied in the submission of ali of them
Speaking of the reports suggesting strained
relations between Venezuela and the United States
DR.. Paul said the Tribune editorial which dis
counted the rumors consistent with the facts,
THAT President Castro has assumed hostile atti-
tude toward the United States and Is engaged in
recruiting an army for belligerent demonstra-
ton," said he, 'is nonsense. The attitude of
Venezuela and her people toward America and
Americans is generally friendly. President Castro
has merely gone to Maracay, which is a resort
about hundred miles from Caracas. to get rid OF
the etfects of an attack of the grip-purely mat
ter of health considerations which could not for
moment be fairly regarded act of discourtesy.
IL does not even mean suspension OF the negotia-
tons OF the two governments. President Castro
does not suspend his work when absent from the
capital The negotiations still in progress. I
saw President Castro Just before left Caracas and
knew at that time that he going to Maracay.
The trip had been planned for more than two
weeks before his departure, and the preparations
to receive him were going forward. that when he
left Caracas his going had no sort OF connection
with the asphalt dispute