Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-28
VENEZUELA TROUBLES
COLOMBIA MAY BE DRAWN INTO
CONFLICT OVER DIFFERENCES.
Castro Insists Upon Cession OF Two
Provinces and Return or
Political Refugees.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated fress.
TRINIDAD, March 10, 1905.
President Castro has again refused to re-
sumo diplomatic relations with Colombia.
and in SO doing has created situation
which many South American diplomats fear
will lead to war between Colombia and
Venezuela.
Early In February President Reyes sent
Lucas Caballero as minister to Venezuela
having been advised that President Cas-
tro desired the re-establishment of diplo-
matte relations between the two re-
publics. For more than a month after
his arrival in Caracas. Senior Caballero
was practically ignored. He was never
officially received. but finally Lopez
Baralt, former minister of foreign affairs
was named to confer with him
Two Provinces Demanded.
A sort OF protocol was presented to
Senior Caballero by Senior Baralt. in which
it was stipulated that in consideration of
the resumption Of diplomatic relations
with Venezuela, Colombia must cede to
Venezuela the two border provinces which
the King of Siam recently gave to CO.
lomba in settlement of the controversy
between Venezuela and Colombia. 1t was
also stipulated in the protocol that five
political refugees now in Colombia be re-
turned to Venezuela, and that thirty-four
other political refugees be expelled from
Colombia.
President Castro insisted, through his
representative, Baralt, that these conces-
sions had been made by President Reyes
in settlement of damages Colombia is al
legged to have inflicted upon Venezuela by
assisting the Matos revolution. which de-
veloped near the Colombian border, and
was waged chiefly with supplies said to
have been obtained from Colombia.
Caballero Requested to Leave.
Although Colombia is anxious to resume
diplomatic relations with Venezuela and
have the embargo raised which Castro
placed on commerce along the eastern
boundary of Colombia. President Reyes
resented the attitude of Castro and au-
thorized CabaIlero to withdraw from
Venezuela at once If he considered such
action advisable. The Colombian minister
and his secretary left Caracas several
days ago and went to Macuta, water
Ing place near La Guaira, where they
now are. The Castro government is said
to have asked that they remain in Vene-
zuela until the relations between the two
republics can be discussed more fully.
Last year President Reyes visited Presf-
dent Castro in Caracas, and 1t was rumor
ed at that time that their differences were
partly settled, but such was not the case.
Castro Stops Trade.
President Castro has persistently refused
to permit Colombia to carry on trade, ex-
cept under conditions which are almost
prohibitive, through Maracaibo and other
ports near the eastern boundary of Co
lombia which afford natural outlet for
Colombian products, which can be mar
keted at other ports only at a great loss.
This discrimination against Colombia has
almost ruined the trade of one of the
richest sections of the republic, and has
also brought great loss to Venezuelans
who depended on that trade. President
Castro has disregarded the requests Of
both Venezuelans and Colombians how
ever, his purpose being to punish Colon
bia for its alleged assistance to the Matos
revolution.
Chilean Intercession.
1t was said that Senior Herbosa, the
Chilean minister in Caracas. induced
President Reyes to send Minister Cabal-
lero to Caracas on the representation that
Castro was ready to resume diplomatic
relations. Herbosa is also reported to
have assured the Castro government that
Reyes was willing to cede the two dis
puted provinces If diplomatic relations
between Colombia and Venezuela could
be renewed. Herbosa now denies that he
made such representations.
At present Colombia is in such an I'M
settled condition and its finances are so
low that war seems unlikely, but diplo-
mats familiar with South American poll
tics believe the time is not far distant
when Colombia will take up arms against
Venezuela If the commercial restrictions
placed upon the eastern part of Colombia
by Castro are not modified