Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20
CASTRO CALLED DOWN.
French Rights in Venezuela
Must Be Respected.
FORCE TO BE EMPLOYED
TWO WARSHIPS ORDERED TO
PORT OF LA GUAIRA.
This Country Will Not Interfere I'm
less the Monroe Doctrine is
Menaced in Some Way.

Menaced in Some Way.
The complications in the matter of the
French cable at La Guaira have reached a
crisis and Minister Bowen has informed The
State Department that the French minister
at Caracas has notified the Venezuelan gov
eminent that it must not proceed further
toward the cancellation of the companys
franchise interfere with its properties
Two French warships have been ordered IN
mediately to La Guaira to act I'm accordance
with the French minister's instructions
These are the Judien de la Gravere and the
Duplex. now somewhere in the Caribbean.
The State Department has not yet been in
formed of the details of the French PRO-
gram. consequently it is not known to what
length the French naval commanders will
go.
1t Is the expectation. however, that the
appearance of these ships at La Guaira will
cause President Castro to accede at once to
the demands of the French minister. If he
refuses to do so then the French minister
will probably turn over the legation to the
care of some other member of the diplo-
matte body at Caracas and go aboard one
of the warshps. thus bringing about a sew
erance of diplomatic relations between
France and Venezuela.
The Situation Must Changs.
Existing conditions cannot last more than
few days, according to the official opinion
here. During that time there may be
some further diplomatic exchanges relative
10 the affairs of the cable company through
third parties. for possibly some of the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps at Caracas,
acting singly or perhaps by joint resou-
ton. may bring pressure to bear upon
President Castro to induce him to yield.
q rhlf al
government actually seiZes the cable Office
near La Guara, it is fully expected that
the French warships will make a demon
stration, attempting to land force TO re-
cover possession of the property and If re-
sisted they Will open fire on the defensive
works which have recently been construct
ed to command the harbor and roadstead
at La Guiara.
1t is said to he possible that there may
eventually be a joint demonstration for
the Dutch government has lodged conf
plant with President Castro against the
treatment of the citizens of that country
and it may join with France in coercive
measures.
This Government to Be Passive.
The French government has not formally
asked the consent of the United States gov
eminent to its proceedings against Castro
nor, under existing conditions, does it feel
called upon to do so. But with perfect
knowledge of the policy of the United
States in such matters as outlined in the
correspondence that took place between the
AState Department and Mr. Holleben, former
" German ambassador here, a precedent
to the German naval demonstration at La
Guaira in the winter of 1872, the French
government is going to deal with President
castro on the theory that there will be no
Intervention on our part in the interests of
the South American republic. There is au-
hority for the statement that this rassump-
lion is correct, providing there is no inten-
i'm on he lvt nf ha Erann of ai1ir
any Venezuelan territory with view to its
retention. .-...
In the case of the last demonstration Mr..
Bowen, our minister. through his influence
with President Castro. was able to prevent
a bDmbardInent and secure the reference of
the dispute to The Hague tribunal but as it
was Venezuelan commerce suffered some
what from few weeks blockade. Now,
however, Mr.. Bowens relations with Presi-
dent Castro are very different, and even If
he had the disposition to do so he lacks
power to influence President Castro in
peaceful settlement of this trouble.
The State Department also is not disposed
to repeat the history of the first settlement
with Venezuela. for the results are said to
have been far from satisfactory, neither the
allied Powers nor Venezuela being entirely
pleased at the outcome. and the obligations
Incurred under the award of The Hague tri-
bunal have not been fully met.
Therefore IL Is the present intention of
the United States government not to inter-
fere in any dispute of a foreign nation
with Venezuela provided the Monroe doc
trfne is not infringed. OF course, that de-
termination does not estop independent ac-
ton part in the interests of Ameri-
can concessions and properties in Vene-
zuela.
The Two Warships.
OF the two warships daily expected at La
Guiara, the Duplex is the more formidable
one. being an armored cruiser of twenty-one
knots speed. carrying eight G4-inch guns,
four 39-mch guns. ten 3-pounders. four l.
Founders and two 9-pounder field guns. The
Jurien de la Graviere is protected cruiser
of twenty three knots speed and carries
eight 6.4-inch guns. ten 3-pounders and six
1-pounders.
Disavowal at Paris.
PARIS. March 20-The representations
made by the French minister at Caracas
to the Venezuelan government have not
yet taken the form of political protest.
but are in the nature of declaration upon
the legal rights of the French cable COM
pany which France desires to have respect
ed. The authorities here do not wish the
view to prevail that French relations with
Venezuela have reached an acute stage
On the contrary. 1t is said the question re-
mains clearly within the diplomatic limit
and no consideration has yet been given to
sending warships to Venezuelan waters or
taking other possible measures for exerting
force.
ANY measures of such a character will
await the final decision of the court and
the failure of every diplomatic means of
adjustment
Owing to the difference OF time between
Caracas and Paris the courts decision is
not expected here tonight. and May possibly
be deferred for several days. The authori-
ties here have from the first intended to
deal with the subject without seeking inter-
yention or joint action on the part of the
United States, although DESTROYS of know
ing what the United States intended doing
upon practically similar conditions relative
to the New York and Bermudsz asphalt
company The purpose of this appears to
as the United States although maintaining
independent action.