The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-03-24
CASTRO MUST YIELD.
France Sends Ultimatum. Likewise
Two Warships to VenzueIa to
Back Up Her Demands.

Back Up Her Demands.
A Washington special says: The
French Gable Company complications
have reached crisis, and Minister
Brown has informed the state depart
ment that the French minister at Ca.
.racas, by instructions of his govern
ment, R14aotihed the Venezuelan gov
ernment that there must be no fur
Their proceedings on it's part toward
the cancellation OF the company's
franchise or interference with its
property.
Further, Mr. Bowen reports that
two French warships have been or
dered post-haste to Venezuela to ACT
in accordance with the instructions
OF the French minister. These are
the Julian de Gravierre and the Du-
plex, now In the Caribbean sea.
1t is expected in Washington that
the appearance Of the warships at
La Guayra will cause President Castro
to accede promptly to the demands OF
the French minister. failing which the
minister probably will place the le-
cation in the care Of some other min.
lister at Caracas, and go aboard one OF
the warships, thus severing diplomatic
relations between France and Ven
ezuela.
The present situation cannot con.
tinue more than a few days, accord
ing to the opinion Of Official Wash
ington. If the Venezuelan govern.
ment seizes the cable Office near La
Guayra, it is fully expected that the
French warships will make a demon.
stration, attempt to land a force 20
recover possession Of the property,
and, II resisted, open fire on the de.
fensive works recently constructed to
defend the harbor and roadstead at
La Guayr8 The Dutch government
has lodged a very serious complaint
with President Castro against the
| treatment Of its citizens and 1t may
Join with France in 'coercive meas.
ures.
| The French government has not
/ asked the consent OF the United states
to its proceedings against Castro, nor
{
with a perfect knowledge Of the pol
! icy of the United States in such mat.
! tiers, the French government is going
! on the theory that there will be no
! Intervention on the part of this gov
eminent This assumption Is right,
as there is no intention on the part
of the French government of Selling
with a view to its retention Of any
Venezuelan territory.
In the case of the last demonstra-
ton. Mr.. Bowen, the American min
lister. was able to prevent a lombard
ment and secure the reference Of the
dispute to The Hague tribunal, but as
It was. Venezuelan commerce suffered
somewhat from few weeks blockade.
Now, however, Mr.. Bowen's relations
with President Castro are very diner
ent, and even If he had the DISPOSE
ton to do so he lacks power to in
duce President Castro to peaceabiy
settle this trouble. The state depart
ment also Is not disposed to repeat
the history of the first settlement
with Venezuela as the results have
been far from satisfactory, neither
the allied powers nor Venezuela pleas
ed at the outcome. The obligations
incurred under the award Of The
Hague tribunal never have been met
It is. therefore, the present inten
ton Of the United States government
not to interfere With any dispute Of
foreign nation with Venezuela provid
ed the Monroe doctrine Is not infrinS
ed. This determination does not es
top action on our part in the inter
ests OF American concessions and
properties in Venezuela.