Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-16
Minister Bowen's Inquiry.

its property by appeals to the Venezuelan
courts. But at the same time it lodged the
motion now dismissed by the Venezuelan
supreme court the asphalt company made
o strong appeal to the State Department
here for aid, asserting that it had been de-
MED justice by the Venezuelan govern
ment.
Mr.. Bowen, United States minister, was
called upon for several reports by the
State Department and its inquiry appear
ed to justify the company's main ale
cations. However, as the State Department
has always been exceedingly jealous of the
reputation of American courts and has
seldom tolerated any challenge by for
eign power of the propr1ety of their de-
cisiOns, the President decided in this case
to make absolutely sure that the asphalt
company was right in it's contention that
President Castro had interfered with the
ordinary judicial processes adversely to
it. Therefore he adopted the unusual
course of removing the matter temporarily
from the State Department and referred it
to the Attorney General, the highest ju-
dicial authority at the call of the eXecu-
tive, requesting him to report whether or
not there had been a miscarriage of justice
in this case such as would warrant
formal protest by this government
Mr.. Russell's Opinion.
After considering the subject for several
months the Department of Justice has pre-
pared an opinion, principally the work of
Assistant Attorney General Russell, but SO
far that has not been formally returned
to the President. 1t Is said that the opin-
ion is to the effect that the asphalt COM
pany apparently has not been fairly treat
| ed, not only according to the principles
| of English law, but even taking as basis
the ordinary Venezuelan legal practice.
| However, the President has not yet deter
| mined upon the course he shall pursue in
this matter The attorneys for the asphalt
| company are frequent visitors to the State
| Department demanding satisfaction, and
| every asphalt-laden vessel which arrives
| at New York from Venezuela brings forth
another angry and energetic protest against
this continued alleged spoiation of the as
| phalt company's properties.
| Minister Bowen, meanwhile, Is waiting
| for instructions, his status at Caracas be-
| ing rather delicate owing to the fidelity
! with which he has executed the State De-
partmentS instructions at various stages
| in the progress of the asphalt cases before
the Venezuelan courts. Pending the final
consideration of the attorney generals opin-
ion here, which If, in favor of the company
| will undoubtedly force some positive action
by this government to secure the alleged
rights of an American corporation, Mr.
| Bowen has been endeavoring to settle the
| matter automatically with President Castro
directly He has been delayed in that II
some measure by President Castro's de
| parture from the Venezuelan capital on g
tour in the interior, but now that he ha!
returned to Caracas it is expected that eff
forts will be made to prevent the cast
from proceeding to point Where th'
| United States government will feel com
PEELED to- make a summary demand tha
the Venezuelan government right the wrong
which it is alleged to have committed il
this case.