The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-21
THE ASPHALT MESS.


presumably emanating from interested
sources, state that owing to pressure on
the part OF President Castro the court loi
Venezuela has ordered the sequestrntion
Of the landed property OF the Am erioan
Asphalt Company" The fact that this -se-
questration' took place on July 20. 1904
gives color to a belief that the story now
gets circulation for campaign purposes.
The original asphalt concession was
granted by the Venezuelan Government
in 1883 TO one Horatio X. Hamilton. ltgaNe
10 him specified privileges for the mining
Of asphalt in the State Of Bermudez ana
for the exploitation Of other articles OF
commerce the product OF the Venezuelan
forests 1t bound him to certain obhga-
tons, and we are oredibly informed that
the concession granted to Hamilton ana
assigned by him to the New York and ber-
mudez Company in December, 1885, con
tanned the following provisions;
The failure to comply with all OF the siipulsnons
herein expressed viii ann vi the present contract.
The disputes or controv ersies which may arse 10y
reason OF this contract shall be settled by lhcnou
mails OF the Republic In accordance vi h It's laws
The Venezuelan Asphalt Company case
now becoming a menace to frenuIy reIa-
lions with foreign Power, resolves ltseIi
into questions of fact. Alleging laliure 10
comply with the terms OF the concession
under which the company operates ana
alleging an act OF treason against the Nehe-
zielan Government. President Castro last
july ordered the seizure OF tho company
nronerty The case went to the Venezuelan
courts. where II is still under consideration
The business ia being carried on by an OH
cially appointed receiver
On the basis Of expressed views and
opinions that the Venezuelan courts will act
neither Justly nor in accordance with the
law. proposals are made for national inter-
vention in the legal processes OF friendly
nation. The position seems greatly strained.
No parallel lies with the sending Of ship OF
war TO n foreign port during time OF war
or insurrection for the protection OF the
life or property OF American citizens. Vene-
zuela is at peace aud we are al peace with
her. To send warships to her harbor, in
warning or in threat. only upon an asshmp-
ton that her courts will not act justly and
legally. il little short OF outrageous.
This case is in the Venezuelan courts.
The elapsed six months since the seizure
Of the property is no undue time for the
determination of such a case The same
might be said if IL were twelve months
instead OF six With the proceedings OF
that court the United States has no more
TO do than it has with the courts OF England
or Germany should an adverse verdict
be rendered this week. next week, or next
year. the compliments might then appeal
TO their Government for review OF the
case submitting claims for redress in the
Of
1, would then be for the Government TO
demand relief for its injured citizens and
to enforce the demand
Meanwhile it appears to be open to the
aggrieved parties to bring their case into
the courts Of the United States by applica-
ton for "A writ of attachment against arriv-
ing cargoes of asphalt from mines to which
they claim lawful ownership Until some such
step is taken room is left tor wonder whether
the poor little company which got its mil
lions Of dollars from the pockets OF con-
fiding Philadephians has any more conii-
dence in the courts Of its own country than
it has In those which il declares TO be sub
ect to the individual control OF President
Castro 1t also leaves room for wonder
lust how much confidence the claimants
have in the merits OF their case.
IL can only be regarded as matter oil
regret that Mr Bowen is to be left in Cara
cas- to carry on the diplomatic relations.
His personal relations with the Venezuelan
authorities are known to be most unf1endy.
Amcable adjustment of a situation which
has been made delicate with no proper
reason for becoming so. is rendered difficult
and perhaps impossible. II Mr.. Bowen
could somehow manage to acquire a mild
attack OF some tropical disease that would
necessitate hs return TO cooler cline.
the path would be cleared for the arrival
Of MIR. Irving p. Dudley. who is slated az
his successor, in any case. in the early
future.
At all events, all the asphalt that the
trust could drag out of its mines during
the four years OF life remaining in its con-
cesson is not worth an international row.
Nor ia there any ground for Muster until
the Venezuelan courts have rendered their
verdict.