The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-20
oooLNEss TowARD RUssRl.L.
President Castro Tries to Snuh the
 American Minister.


 Anferican Minister.
 Washington, Jan. 19.-Three French warships are now off the Venezuelan coast prepared to deliver the answer of France to President Castro's treatment of M. Taigny, the French representative at Caracas by Q naval demonstration in Venezuelan waters Two additional warships will join them as soon as they can make the trip across the Atlantic.
 Until the demonstration has been in- itiated the French Government will share with the President and Secretary Root the knowledge of the exact form which this expression of her displeas- ure at President Castro's action will take. Meanwhile the delicacy of the situation at Caracas is greatly increas- ed by news which has recently reached here from the Venezuelan capital re- garding the attitude President Castro now appears to be assuming toward Mir. Russell, the American Minister. Unless this attitude is radically modi- fled 1t may be necessary to dispatch an American warship even nearer the Ven- ezuelan coast than has already been ! planned.
 President Castro, 1t is said, will be given to understand that treatment of | an American representative such as ac- corded NJ. Taigny will not be toler- ated by the Washington Government. The only cause which can be assigned here for President Castro's coolness to- wards Mr.. Russell is that the former ] insists upon regarding as personal rather than official the efforts which Mir Russell, acting under Instructions | from Washington, has made to assist peaceful settlement of the Franco Venezuelan troubles. The request of | the French Government that it's inter- | ests in Venezuela be looked after by MT. Russell was immediately granted | for the reason that such a request is invariably granted by friendly power. l however difficult the task.
 France has adopted simply program for her treatment of the Venezuelan sit- uation. It provides for an immediate and comprehensive apology by Presi- | dent Castro for his treatment of M. l Taigny, which treatment the Paris of | hclals regarded as insulting" and 'in- | tolerablc" Until this apology is made, | discussion of the claims and other grievances which France has against | Venezueln will be withheld The l French Government regards the action | of President Castro's agents in Ia | GuaYara in refusing to permit NJ. | Taigny to return ashore after he had boa rded French liner as an act of | war. France demands that her repre- | sentative shall receive. the same treat ment at Caracas as is given the Nene- 1 zuclan representative at Paris.
 ! Up to late hour tonight the French embassy was without any advices from 1 Caracas or Paris, but information re- garding the whereabouts of the French warships and their intin'crary is mo- mentariIy expected.
 In continuance of the policy rigidly adhered to- M Jusserand. the French | Ambassador. who has kept the Wash i ington Government informed at every stage of the course to be pursued by | France in Venezuela, had long con ference with Secretary Root this af- fcrnoon. Upon leaving the depart ment. the Ambassador dismissed his carriage and accompanied the Secre- tarv as far as the embassy in MT Root's automobile, the Secretary then continuing his ride.
 At this conference Mir. Jusserant gave to the secretary detailed az count of the latest treatment to which M Tnieny was subjected which sub. stantiated the account given by M Tdenv O the Associated Press cores nondent at Willemstad several day, ago. It now appears that three impor tant despatches containing instruction for M Taigny never reached him an, The supposition is that they were in tercepted b ythe Venezuelan govern ment This is regarded as a very seri ous phase of the situation and will b, thoroughly investigated hy MT. Rus sell. Care will also be taken to secure the delivery without interception O all despatches to Mir, Russell.
 One despatch sent MT. Russell las