The San Francisco call., 1905-03-21
Makes Allies Of Ger
many and Great
Britain,
Castro Closing a Deal Detri-
mental to His Other
Creditors.
News Nay Lead to Lively Diplomatic
Exchanges Between Washing
ton and London.
Special Dispatch to n. Call

PARIS, March 20.-AnEouncement Of
a remarkable coup attempted by Pres
ident Castro Of Venezuela-one that
will demand the immediate attention
of the United States and French gov
ernments-was made here to-day. In
cidentally il is likely TO lead to some
lively diplomatic exchanges between
Washington and the German and Brit
ish capitals.
General Antonio Belutini, President
Castros financial agent at Antwerp,
has been authorized to sign a contract
with the German and British holders
OF Venezuelan bonds pledgi. per
cent Of the customs receipts ~ Anta
i Tela, Cumana- Cuidad Bolivar, Porto
Colon and Carupino to pay s26, 900 600,
bearing interest at the rate of 4 per
cent per annum, until other creditor
nations are paid from 80 per cent Of the
customs Of La Guayra and Porto Ca
bellO, after which those two ports shall
pay 25 per cent Of their total receipts
10 Great Britain and Germany.
X is estimated that Germany and
Great Britain viii get a preponderating
influence over Venezuela for fifty years
and continue their alliance.
It is reported that President Castro
receives a gift Of $2,600,000 in consid-
Grafton of this arrangement
The effect Of this action by the Castro
regime can be readily understood He
VIII make allies Of Great Britain and
Germany. who viii not be disposed to
relinQuish the advantage gained for
their subjects who are creditors of the
South American republic Meanwhile
the other creditor nations, including
the United States, should they quietly
submit. must undergo the humiliation
Of seeing British and German claim
ants paid while their own efforts at
collection are meeting with no other
success than insolent treatment of for
eign corporations doing business in
Venezuela.
Inquiry at the Ministry of Ma
rine tonight failed TO elicit YER
idcation Of the report cabled here
from the United States to the ef-
feet that French warships have been
ordered to Venezuela. On the contrary,
no movements of that character have
yet been ordered. Moreover, there has
been no meeting of the Cabinet since
Friday, when il was decided not to
take definite action until the Nenezu-
elan courts had rendered a final deci-
sion in the French Cable Company
case. The Foreign Office said specif-
1cally that the stage for the sending OF
Narships had not yet been reached.
WASElNGION, March 20. - The
French cable complications have reach
Cd 4 crisis and Minister Bowen has in
formed the State Department that the
French Minister in Caracas, by in
structlons Of his Government, has no.
tined the Venezuelan Government that
there must be no further proceedings
on lis part toward the cancellation OF
the company's franchise or interference
with its property. Further. Bowen re-
ports that two French warships have
been ordered post haste to Venezuela
20 act in accord with the instructions
Of the French Minister. These are the
Jurien de Ia Gravierre and the Duplex
now in the Caribbean Sea.
The Dutch Government has lodged a
very serious complaint with President
Castro against the treatment of its cit
liens and 1t may join with France In
coercive measures.