The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-18
FRANCE IS IMPATIENT
MAY HAVE TO FIGHT THE vENE-
 ZUELAN GOVERNMENT.
United States Officially Informed Re- garding Tangle Arising Over Cas- tro's Action as to the Cable
 Company.

Washington, March 17.--France has officially informed the United States of the action of the Venezuelan Govern ment against the French Cable Com pany, which she regards as high hand ed and unwarranted. While insisting that diplomatic means will be ex- hausted, in the effort to relieve the situation, it is declared that President Castro Is rapidly exhausting French patience and thereby forcing France toward the limit of diplomacy.
 France has invited the attention of the American Government to the Vene- zuelan situation because of its interest in Pan American affairs and in order that it may ascertain the probable course of action which this govern ment will take against the Venezuelan Government. It is the wish of the French Government to act along paral- Tel lines as far as practicable.
 These developments in the Venezue- Ian situation today are regarded as the preliminary step toward the relief of a situation in Caracas, which Europe as well as the United States has for some time regarded with dissatisfaction. Early today M .Jusserand, the French Ambassador, sent his first secretary, M. Des Portes de La Posse, to the State Department to inform the officials there of the suit of the Venezuelan Government against the French cable company and of the concern which this action has caused the French Govern ment M. Des Portes gave to MT. Adee. the acting Secretary of State, the sub stance of the cablegram from Paris and asked him about the probable line of action which this government contem- plated in connection with the asphalt case. which also is in President Castro's courts.
 It was impossible for MT. Adee to commit the government on this point until the Venezuelan courts have acted, but he thanked the secretary for advis- ing this government in the matter and promised him information as soon as the government was prepared to make an announcement. As soon as the French secretary left, MT. Adee called at the War Department, where he had a long conference with Secretary Taft, who, in the absence of Secretary Hay, the acting Secretary of State Is con sulting on all matters of importance/
 It Is probable that upon the Presi- dents return from New York M. Jus serand, the French Ambassador, will outline to him the position in which the French Government finds itself as a
 
 ton and discuss generally with the President the entire situation about which France Is keenly annoyed.
 It Is pointed out that 1t Is the wish of the French Government to settle as quietly as possible its differences with Venezuela, and in case a French ulti- matum Is followed by no relief in the situation, France will have well nigh reached the limit of diplomacy.
 In view of the unfavorable condition in Venezuela at this moment the French armored cruiser Duplex and the protected cruiser Julien de Gravierre of twenty-three knots speed which are no win the Caribbean, will be retained in that vicinity indefinitely.
 Although the greater part of the North Atlantic fleet is soon to come north as far as Pensacola for target practice. an adequate contingent will remain in Dominican waters to guard American interests there and in case of an emergency in Venezuela, the fleet at Pensacola will be in easy cruising distance It Is possible that the French cruisers may touch at Pensa- cola during the stay there of the American fleet to obtain supplies or merely to pay a friendly visit.