The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-01-17
FRANCE BREAKS
WITH VENEZUELA
United States Officials Watching the
Turn Of Events.
Mr.. CASTRO OBDURATE AS EVER.
Admitted at Washington That the Relations
Between the Venezuelan President and
U. S. Minister Russell Are Not What They
Should Bs..Franee and United States Likely
TO Act Together.

Washington (Special) - The serious
ness OF the Venezuelan situation with
regard TO both the relations between Ven
ezuela and the United States and be-
tween Venezuela and France is increas-
ing with great rapidity.
All diplomatic relations between Ven
ezuela and France are broken, it is said
at the State Department, and, although
it is stated 40 formal or official iniorma-
ton to this extent has been received, the
officials assume that, in accordance with
the usual procedure, this will involve the
early departure from Venezuela OF NJ.
Taigny, the French representative there,
and from France OF NJ. Maubourguet, the
Venezuela agent at Paris.
The officials here are awaiting the trun
of events with keen interest.
Mr. Russell, the American minister at
Caracas, has been instructed to take UP
the Critchfeld asphalt claim, which has
lain dormant for some months, and push
it with the Venezuelan government, max
ing every effort to secure a quick settle
ment.
On top of these facts, news was re-
ceived at the State Department that cable
communication with Venezuela had been
completely severed Whether there is
any significance to this cannot be deter
mined. When the allied fleet, consisting
of warships from Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy, bombarded ports OF Ven
ezuela four years ago, Castro interrupt
ed cable communication. He is now, by
virtue OF his action last fall, when he
annulled the concession of the French
Gable Company, in control OF the cables
and it is quite likely that the inter-
ruption is due TO some action on the part
of the Venezuelan executive.
Since the middle OF last September
President Castro has temporized with
France, and it has been almost weekly
reiterated that France was fast losing
patience. 1t now seems that France is
preparing to take some sort of action
Although the present breach in the
relations between France and Venezuela
is technically chargeable against the per-
sonality of NJ. Taigny, the French charge
at Caracas, the real issue, as it is url-
derstood here, is the attack by President
Castro upon the properties and franchise
of the French Cable Company. The
President asserted that the cable COM
pany had lent active assistance to the
Matos rebellion. Therefore, he began
proceedings in the Venezuelan courts
against the company on that score, and
also complained that the company had
violated the terms Of its concession in
not laying certain coast line of cable, and
especially in crossing the island Of Santo
Domingo with land wires subject TO fire.
quent interruption in times Of rebellion
on that island.
The courts sustained the Presidents
view and, in fact, practically took pos
session of the company's Offices at certain
points, when the French government in
tervened. In the absence of the regular
minister NJ. Taigny presented written
protest to the Venezuelan government.