The Washington times., 1905-03-29
CASTRO'S COURSE
IS JUSTIFIED BY
LATIN AMERICANS
Consider BoWen's Atti-
tude Ill Considered
and illogical.
BLAMED FOR FRICTION
BLAMED FOR FRICTION
Venezuelan Courts Given
Jurisdiction in All For
eign Contracts.

venezuelans particularly, and South
! Americans generally, are disposed to-
blame Minister Bowen, at Caracas, for
the present tension CT affairs between
the United States and Venezuela.
They say his dispatches on the va
rious questions in dispute have been
of an aIarrnist nature, when. as a mat
| ter of fact. there has been nothing in
the situation to warrant the disturbance
of the friendly relations between the
! two countries.
| They point out that in Venezuela and
almost universally in South American
countries, every concession or contract
! given to a foreign company contains
the provision that if disputes arise they
shall be settled by the local courts, and
shall not, in any case. become the sub
| ject of diplomatic interference.
| Minister Bowen, it is alleged, has
overlooked this fact, and has repre-
sented to the United States Government
that the rights of American. French,
and Italian corporations have been ruth
lessly disregarded by Venezuela.
Sentiment Against United States.
| If the diplomatic representatives of
the South American governments sta
toned here reflect their home sentiment,
it is certain that the sympathy of South
America as a whole is with Venezuela
rather than with the United States.
In the case of the New York and
Bermudez Asphalt Company, it is point
ed out that every proceeding against
the company has been by due process of
/ law, and that the receiver, legally ap-
pointed, is making detailed reports of
his operations pending the final deter
mination OF the case.
| The company, it is asserted, has clear
| iy forfeited its concession. It has not
carried out the terms of its contract,
which. among other things, provided for
| the canaliZation of certain rivers.
1t is also charged with having aided
in the Matos revolution.
Why Award Is Not Paid.
The Orinoco Steampsffp Company s
claim against Venezuela was originally
for million dollars. Arbitrators fixed
the amount at $4,000
Venezuela says the award will be paid
in due course. 1t points to the fact, as
a reason that 1t has not yet been set
tied. that most OF the surplus revenues
Of the country are going to the allied
powers who recently blockaded her ports
and secured through The Hague court
OF arbitration pledge of payment
The third case in which the United
States is interested is the claim of M
Janreft, the newspaper correspondent
who was expelled by Castro. This
claim. which is now for s25 ono was
originally, it Is said, for only 500.
! Formerly a great friend of Castro
Jaurett II is said. abused his confidence
ana published many injurious articles
against him When Castro discovered
this he sent him out of the country
French Claims.
The case against the French cable
company has been pending for some
years The complaint is tnat the com.
pany failed to carry out its promises tc
: connect Venezuela by cable with the
outside world by way of Haiti. Now
the cable goes through Santo Domingo
i and has been frequently interrupted by
the pefiodlcal revolutions in that coun-
try.
The tolls are also claimed 10 No ox.
cessive. The rate for government mes.
SageS between this country and traroras
! Is Sl-50 word, whereas 1t costs onlv 81
, cents q Word to communicate with Bo-
| gota Colombia, hundreds of miles in.
! Iahd and q cents a word with Santiago
{ Chile, far down on the western coast.
l AS for the La Guanta Mining Com.
pany, in which Italy is said to be in.
! terested, 1t is pointed out that the com
! pany merely leases the mine: that If /,
: practically bankrupt; that it las beer
in litigation for years and that, in FUR
| nishing coal to the allied 1acts ,.ynil,
they We're blockading the ports of Ven
eZuela, the company was guilty Of trca
son against the Venezuelan governrnen
| of which 1t was al the time an agent
1t is suggested in South America,
circles here that these cases do no
Z present reason enough for alarming in
. ternational dispatches. much less 70
I warlike demonstrations by any of TIL
powers whose citizens are Interested
The disposition is to believe that Min
) lister Bowen. who has become person.
!, | non grata at Caracas. has, perhaps an
!, Intentionally, exaggerated the circum
. stances.