The Washington times., 1905-04-02
Venezuela '.Manana. "

LII Lie UliSuI iSAiCOH VI OOulA
American youths there is no word so
useful as "manana" In some cases
it may be but the refuge of the pro-
erastinating, putting off till tomor-
row a disaster which threatens to-
day. In others it may prove the
protection Of the weaker party until
the stronger one can be made aware
of facts not any too apparent at first
glance Which of the two represents
the present Venezuelan negotiations
will be learned in time.
Manana-tomorrow a safe an
swer to almost any question in the
southern republics. 1t gives time
for the heated blood to cool, for the
cOntending partisans to get together
1t is the natural, the expected, an
swer of the tropics, where the sea-
sons run their equable course with
out jostling one another for place;
where there is no crowded hour
for high or low, but instead the time
honored siesta for everybody.
1t is not surprising, then, that Ven
ezuela, in either of the two ways of
looking at the situation, seeks to go
slow. President Castro makes claims
which, If they can be proven, entitle
him to consideration greater than he
has heretofore been accorded by pop
ular opinion here His declaration
that foreign syndicates have willfully
and persistently violated the plain
terms Of their concessions and then
have instigated and maintained Tevo-
lutions in order to validate, if pos
sible, their unlawful acts, naturally
impels this Government TO inquire
closely before giving its official back
ing to private claims against another
country
Then there is the announcement
that the State Department, before
passing judgment, will await the full
text of Castro's official reply to the
representations it presented recently
through Minister Bowen The latter
termed the dictator's rejoinder i'm
pertinent and insulting and his
word may be accepted as not subject
to dispute But may not Castro set
up the claim that he, the republic s
President, and very naughty about
his official dignity, too, found it nee
essary to be outspoken in support
of his own dignity and his country s
position? Unofficial representations
have already been made directly te
President Roosevelt along these lines
and he will await the State Depart
ment's inquiries as TO their accu-
racy.
Rumors of Minister Bowen's trans
fer to another diplomatic post must
be understood as coming entirely
from Venezuelan agents. Undoubt.
edly any American who plays tn.
game better than his opponent doe,
not thereby increase the latter's wisf
for further combats of the same sor
with the likelihood Of the same re
suits.
Success alone sustains the south
ern republics in stable goyernmen
against the many ambitious reyolu
tionistS who would supplant tn
rulers of today. When Castro's repl,
is received in full ard his official rep
resentations are made, there may b
these other considerations of polio
In addition to the possibility that tn
asphalt claims are not above all crit
icism. In this condition Of affair
the fact that Castro's cry or ma
mana" attracts greater attention tina
il would usually in official circles
and that President Roosevelt doe
not contemplate immediate actio
must impress all observers as bein
more than ordinarily significant.