The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-02
ACCUSE CASTRO
Of GEGAN TIC
HOLD UP
Col. DaGkuS, Who Negotiated fol-
Asphalt Property, Tells Story
of Attempted Deal.

Indianapolis. Feb. Colonel Victor
NJ Backus of tlis city is one of the
most important witnesses in the Ven
ezulan asphalt controversy. He was
the confidential man sent 10 Caracas
by the asphalt company al the first
sign Of Casuo's hostility to find out
exactly what was going on. His story
is already in possession of the State
Department. and viii probably becOm
public in full when congress gets from
the president The fun details of the
asphalt controversy, as it may do any
day.
Colonel Backus says that h repre-
scented himself as the emissary OF
asphalt interests who wanted 20 buy
mines in Venezuela. and as he ap
peared 10 have plenty of money it was
rot long before ne got into nsgOt.a-
lions with the government ring IN
Caracas. This ring had an asphalt
claim called la Venezuela" Men
close TO President Castro had already
offered this claim 10 the New YORK
and B7rmudez Co, for $500 600 down
ana a royalty. Colonel Backus open
ed up negotiations 10 purchase this
claim through Senior ArOcha. a fOst II
brother Of Mrs. Castro. Senior FiEuera
and General Barrel de NaZaris. Mrs.
Castro's secretary. Here is Colonel
BaCkus' story Of his negotiations al
Mirahores, President Castro's palace
as related 10 a representative Of the
Indianapolis News:
f.. Castro Directed the Deal,
"Arocha. NazaTis. Figuera and
were in a large room, seated at 4 Ia
bic In an adjoining room was PreSi
dent Castro, and as We talked Arochs
would explain 10 the president who
came 10 The doorway dividing the
room We We're in and the room in
which he was, what we were doing
and made figures. and. in fact. Presi,
dent Castro appeared 10 be directing
the deal
The upshOt of il was. that | agreed
TO pay 100000 for La Venezuela and
promised that [ would have the money
there in thirty days. had paid some
money on the deal and spent a good
deal more working il up. In the ne
gOtiauOns / expressed a fear thai the
courts would sustain the right OF
Figuera TO La Venezuela Figuera
told ne that he had been instructed
10 say to me by Arocha that the SUI
preme Court of Venezuela would sus
tain Figuera's claim. and there would
be no danger in making the purchase
So il was demonstrated to me- that
Figuera was really a fgurehead in tbs
affair-thar the real owners were
President Castro and his brOther-in
law and perhaps Nazaris.
Seized by President Castro.
Il went back to New York. and
President Castro. as is known, seized
the property under an old Spanish
law that requires the recipient of a
concession TO do certain work and tC
pay certain royalties. and ne contend
ed that this law had not been com
piled with. A receiver was appoint
ed, and that receiver is A. II. Garner
(fOrmer local manager Of the asphalt
company with whom | consulted
every day while negotiating with
Figuera and his silent partners. And
General Nazaris is now the financial
agent of the Venezuelan government.
When / got TO New York I saw the
asphalt people and made a full report
Of all that had been done. | turnad
The letters and documents over to De
Lancy NicOlL and most of them are
now on file at Washington.
Will Tell More to Congress.
There is no question but the Cen
eral Asphalt Company owns the as
phalr lake. and that President Castro.
General ArOcha, his brothar-in-law.
and General Nazaris the financial
agen, Of the government. are attemDt-
ing a gigantic hOld-up There will be
more of this when congress goes
into an investigation. and until that
time I do not wish 10 say ANYTHING
more"