The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-08
Is It WARP

=
riblo Of tho family of nations. In proper.
ton to his political insignlflca1ice, his
vast aggressvcness is thing to marvel
at. The chip is very rarely or his shout.
dsr. More or less secured BY the mutual
sJeulousies and revulries Of tho grea tFpow-
ers, and impcllcd by what can only be
personal recklessness and indifference
to consequences, he manages to kecp
his little country in continual hot water,
1t is u cold day when Venezuela $ not
embroled In some international wrangle.
Just now 1t Is Franco who has aroused
Don .Cipriano's Ire, and the tension be-
tween them has become acute. Mr..
Castro Is accepting the situation with his
usual imperturbabllty, but France Ia a
good deal worried and makes no bones
about saying 80.
Concessions to the French Gable COM
punY lie Mt the bottom of the present
trouble. Castro made the concessions.
and bargaincd for a quid pro quo In the
form Of certain undertakings on the
part or the company. Now he alleges
that the company failed to carry out it's
agreement, and has in retaliation taken
possession Of some Of its property.
France offered arbitration and Castro
scorned 1t. Finally an entirely new Is
sue was raised by an official note to NJ.
Taigny, the French charge d'affaires,
lnforpling him that Venezuela dccl!n.d
to treat with him further
This Is the rather awkward situation
in which the matter now rests. France
has now not only to enforce the rights
OF its citizens as represented by the
Gable Company, but also to maintain the
dignity Of hor diplomatic representa-
tives. NJ. Jusserand the French AM
bassador, IS known to have been In con-
ference with the President and has been
assured that. SO long as Venczuelas ter
rltory was respected. France has this
courtrys authorization to take such dis
culinary measures as she sees ut. In
short, as a pert paraErnpher has put it.
If she wants to spank Castro, Uncle Sam
is quite willing to look the other way.
This. however, Is precisely what Franco
does not want to do. AS a Washing on
special to tho New Orleans Timcs-Dem-
ocrat points out, Frances experience in
trying to discipline smaller countries
have. within recent memory, been rather
disagrceable; and In general the punt
tive expedition while no doubt occnsion-
ally necessary to the maintenance Of ma
tionnl dignity, is only too likely to prove
an expensive and unsatisfactory under
taking. In the case of Venezuela, such
an expedition would be peculiarly en-
bnrrassng. In that geographical consIde-
ratons would make q nero naval de-
monstratlon ineffective, unl1ss followed
by a4 landing OF troops and Il real in
vasion. And thirdly France has to face
the fact that any military operation in
Venezuela are likely to interfere with
that percentage Of La Glayra and Puerto
Cabcllo c.atoms receipts which England
Germany and Italy, as tho preferred
creditor nations, are now enjoying. That
these countries would View such an in
reference with their revenues with per-
feet complnccnce is hardly to be antici-
pnted.
Yet what Is France to do? Castro
maintains his position in the most an
MOVING way, declining to retract, apolo-
gze or treat further. France, too has
a position that she must, for her own
self-respect. uphold, and should the
Venezuelan hold TO his present policy, If
looks as II she must, despite herself de-
| liver an ultimatum and prepare for war