West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-03-30
Looks Like Uncle Sam May Have to
Spank Venezuela.
SENATE ADJOURES WITHOUT ACTION
On the Santo Domingo Protooal-
Talk Of Increasing tho Tax on
Brewers and Distillers to
Make Up tho Deficit.
From Our Regular Correspondent

ne venezuelan situation has be-
come somewhat acute during the
past week aud the diplomacy of the
administration is being taxed to the
utmost 70 protect the dignity of the
United States and the rights of its
citizens without resorting to the ap.
plication OF force. President Cast.
70 is running things with high
hand. He has calmly forfeited the
entire property Of the New York and
Bermudcz Asphalt Company by
legal procedure it is true, but not
until his contention that the prop
erly should be forfeited was denied
by the Venezuelan Supreme Court
and he had "reorganized" that
court 10y the discharge OF every
member who voted against him and
the appointment of others known to
be ready to construe the law IN &C
cordancc with the wishes of the
President. In the case of one
Jaurett, an American citizen, Castro
expelled him from Caracas because
he disliked certain editorial utter
ances OF Jaurett, and entirely with.
out process Of law. In the case of
the Oronico Steamship Company,
Castro quietly forfeited their chart
er without rhyme or reason and
numerous other instances might be
cited.
Some time ago the United States
urged upon Castro the adysability
of referring the differences growing
out of these claims, to court OF
arbitration. Instead of remaining
at the Venezuelan capital to com
plete negotiations proposed y
Minister Bowen, Castro quietly re-
tired to country place and refused
to be disturbed while lurid accounts
OF his methods Of crest and recrea-
ton" were all the information Mr..
Bowen has received. lie has now
returned TO Carabas, however, and
Mr. Bowen has been instructed
once more 10 press the representa-
tions of this government that the
! questions at issue must be submitted
TO an arbi,ral court and to insist on
a categorical answer. Meanwhile,
Castro has executed what he doubt.
less regards as a coup intended to
remove all possibility Of the United
Sletes taking forcible steps to re.
cover damages for the wrongs done
its citizens.
IL will be remembered that three
years ago, wcen Great Britain, Ger.
many and Italy established a"peace.
ful blockade" of Venezuela's ports,
the United States, with them, finally
consented to submit to arbitration
the method Of payment Of Venczue-
las numerous creditors and the
Hague Tribunal decided that those
countries should be preferred credi-
tors to be paid from the 80 per cent
OF the customs receipts Of La Guira
and Puerto Cabello, which Castro
promised TO devote 10 the payment
Of his c3untry's debts. Now, Castro
according 10 European reports, has
agreed TO devote so per cent ol
more Of the Customs receipts Of all
other ports ia Venezuela to the pay
ment Of certain hitherto repudiateC
bonds held by Europeans. The
purpose of this move is, Of course
virtually % award TO Europeans q
mortgage on all Venezuelan ports
so that should the United States b,
compelled 90 exert force and segere
gate the customs receipts Of any
port 90 pay the damages growinl
out Of Castro's abuse OF American
citizens, this government would BIT
j confronted by the prior claims o
European creditors. is not be
lieved in Washington that the Eu
5 ropean nations will sanction such
. "bargain" but the outcome is a
3 wated with some anxiety.
The Senate finally adjourne,
) without action Of any kind on th
santo Domingo protocol and tha
j fact has doubtless cmboldene,
3 Castro TO go farther than he woul,
3 otherwise have dared as The Domin
d ican affair was unqucstionably in
- tended to create a precedent for th
. application of a similar method o
p collecting revenues and defrayinI
. Indebtedness TO Venezuela The in
e dications arc that the Dominica
b protocol win be approved, ia its re
vised form, next fall after whicl