The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-23
SITUATION Is SERIOUS
FRANCE MAY HAVE TROUBLE WITH
 VENEZUELA.

FRANCE MAY HAVE TROUBLE WITH
 VENEZUELA.
 Minister Taisny Ready te Leave for
 Home While Puehacious Castro
 is Purchasing Munitions
 of War.
 Paris. Sept. 22.-The offensive atti- tude of Venezuela against M. Taigny, the French charge d.affairs at Caracas, has aroused indignation in official quarters hore. Although the ministry has not yet taken definite action, 1t is said in the highest quarters that Presi- dent Rouvier undoubtedly will demand that venezuela disavow the offensive action and adopt a course conformable with the usual courtesies of diplomatic intercourse, The Venezuelan authori- ties are now pretending to show that their action was directed against M. Taigny personally and not against the French Government. but the ofncials here do not accept the distinction be- tween NJ. Taigny's personal and official capacity. He has high standing at the foreign ofice where he recently
 served and there is no intention here to hermit Venezuela to make a scape- goat of him.
 The official directly charged with handling Venezuelan questions explain ed the general status of the controversy as follows:
 venezuela supports the closing of the French Cable Company's inland stations on the ground of the decision of the Venezuelan courts. France does not question the general right of
 the courts but maintains that the de- cision of the courts contained nothing authorizing the executive branch to seize and shut up the cable stations. Moreover only a day before shut ting up the inland stations Venezuela gave assurances that General Velutini. the Venezuelan minister at Paris, would take steps to satisfactorily adjust the question. Therefore M. TaiEny pro- tested on the ground that the courts decision did not justify closing sta tions. This protest was not M Taignys nersonaIiy, but followed specific in- structions from the foreign offce Therefore 1t is impossible to raise per- sonal issue. A separate verbal pro. test was made against the expulsion or Manager Brun of the French Cable Company on the ground that the right "a ernei foreisners does not apply to Mr Rrunko who was permanently domiciled in Caracas. It Is to be ex- pected that a demand will be made l that Venezuela .disavow the acton taken. The subsequent course or | France will depend upon Venezuelas reply" ....,,, that Venezuela has placed orders a' | inc Cruezot works for eight held pat teries and four mountain batteries, the
 later consisting of four guns each
 l If was announced from Caracas Sep ,emher 20 that the Venezuelan Govern ment had that day made the rollowihs
 renly to the protest lodged septem- Der 1s by M. Taigny. the French charge d'affaires. against the closing
 of inc land stations of the French Ca bia Company, and the expulsion of i the manager, of the company M,
 Brunko: ,:tr ,s,@ ...,t
 "The Government holds documents | .royirp that the French Cable Com many has accepted the result or the yH dicial proceedings brought against It.
 The Government Is only awaiting to es- tabIish new relations between lt ana
 the company. M. Taigny' the ., "A d'affaires, knows this and therefore me
 nrotest can be only considered as a. act of personal hostility. ,,, l ''pror this reason the Government VIII ahstair from treating with the French 1 Government through M. Taigny.
 1 The semi 4official Temps this evening
 printed a leading article refiecting ot- l ficlal sentiment on the subject. It sald | that M. TaiEny has been ordered to
 ,ns,.. m Venezuela's withdrawing her offensive refusal to deal with him, IT 1 the withdrawal Is made and President Castro makes an apology. then neso- tiations will continue. If Venezuela
 does not accede 1t will be unwise to lm-
 mediately break off diplomatic rela-
 tIons by the withdrawal Of M. Iaishy,
 since this would leave French interests
 unnrotected. The better course Will De
 for France and the United States to
 make a joint naval demonstration.
 | Continuing. the paper says; "Alreaay
 to our knowledge the cabinets Of Wasn- | inRton and Paris have examined cer, cer,, tain question. Mutual confidence VIII
 render easier an understanding TOT S
 tarvention. in which firmness will not | exoinde moderation and prudence, ap-
 hears today to be essential. x