The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-17
BOWEN REPLIES TO LOOMS.
Statement Regarding Publication OF vcne.
zuelan Scindii in Tatt's Hands.


zuelan Scindal In rats Hands.
WASHINGTON, May 1e-lerhcrt w.
Bowen. late Minister to Venezuela to-day
filed with Secretary Taft his reply to Mr..
Taft's request that Mr.. Bowen make full
statement Of his action in reporting to the
State Department that charges rejecting
upon the integrity of Assistant Secretary
Of State Fran els B. Looms had been made
in Caracas and also that Mr.. Bowen re-
spond to the counter charge Of MIR. LOOMS
that Mr.. Bowen had inspired the newspaper
dispatches dealing with the charges again st
Mr.. LOOMS.
In his answer Me-. Bowen took the ground
that he was not the sponsor for the charges
against Mr.. LOOMS and that he had reported
them to the State Department as a matter
OF official duty because they were being
openly talked Of In Caracas and he knew
that foreign diplomatic representatives had
reported them officially to their own Gov
ernments.
While this much is known as to the con-
tents OF Mr.. Bowen's communication. what
he had to say In response to Mr. Loomis's
allegation that Mr.. Bowen had been the
instigator Of the stories concerning Mr..
Loomis which had appeared In American
newspapers has not been disclosed. 1t
was recalled to-day. however, that hint
Of the supposed scandal had been printed
In q Paris newspaper on April L. twenty
six days before the appearance of the
stories about Mr.. Loomis in American
newspapers. The substance OF what was
printed In Paris was telegraphed to this
country and was used in newspapers here.
How far this circumstance may be con-
sidered by the President and Secretary
Taft in determining whether Mr.. Bowen
had any part in causing the publication OF
the reports has not appeared,
In presenting his answer Mr.. Bowen
upon the charges against Mr. LOOMS were
on file at the State Department, and he
requested that these be procured and made
part of the evidence. The papers we're
found at the State Department and Score
tary Taft turned them over to Mr.. Bowen
for such comment as he desired to make.
Nothing has yet appeared to indicate
that the Administrator will make further
inquiry into the allegations against Mr..
Loomis after 1t has disposed Of the pending
MI Bowen has not. and officially will
not, attempt to subetantiate the charges
of which he notified the State Department.
so that If the Administration believes that
the matter ehould be thoroughly ventilated
it will be obliged to procure evidence from
other sorrc:s
.sehor Pastor y Mora. a Spanish subject.
who was the Venezuelan agent for the
New York and Bermudez Asphalt Company,
called on President Roosevelt to-day. and
it is said that he presented some evidence
against Mr.. Loomis. Senior Pastor. ac-
ording to report, was sent TO the Presi-
dent BY Mr.. Bowen.
Another man who talked with President
Roosevelt to-day in regard to the case
was DR.. Jos de Jesus Paul. the special
diplomatic envoy from Venezuela: 1t was
DR.. Paul who recently told the President
President Castro. 1t Is said that he to-day
told Mr.. Roosevelt some things in defense Of
Mr.. LOOMS which may prove very embar-
RAISING for DIR. Paul when they get to the
ears Of Castro, who showed himself to be
an enemy Of Mr.. LOOMS.