Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-13
WAR CLOUDS ARE
GROWING DARKER
FRANCES RELATIONS WITH
CASTRO SEVERED
Real Issue Between the Countries Is
Attack Made on Properties and
Franchises of Gable
Company
by Associated Press.

by Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-All dplo-
matte relations between Venezuela and
France are broken, il is said at tn.
state department, and although il Is
stated no formal or official information
tC this effect has been received, the Of
Uciuls assume that in accordance with
the usual procedure this win involve
the early departure from Venezuela Ui
". T1igny. the French representative
there and from France of NJ. MaubOur'
gIet, the Venezuelan agent at Paris
The officials here are awaiting the turn
OF events with keen interest, although
k is expressly stated that definite news
regarding the next step that France
Will take is yet to be received. In the
event that the request is made by
France, it is stated that permission Will
be caDled to Minister Russell to look
out for French interests.
Although the present breach in the
diplomatic relations between France
ana Venezuela is technically Chargeable
against the personality of NJ. Taiguy,
the French charge at Caracas, the
real issue, us it is understood here, is
tie attack by President Castro upon
the properties and franchises OF the
French cable company.
The president mas asserted that the
cable company had lent active assist
ance to the MatOs rebellion. Therefore
he began proceedings i'm the Nenezu-
clan courts against the company on
that score and also complained that
the company had violated the terms of
it's concession in not laying certain
coast lines of cable and especially in
crossing the island of Santo Domingo
with land wires subject to frequent in
terruption in times of rebellion on that
island.
The courts sustained the presidents
view and in fact practically took pos
session of the CUmpanN'S Offices mt Cer-
tain points, when the French govern
ment interVencd. In the absence OF
the regular minister, NJ. Taigny pre-
sented written protest to the Venezu-
elan government. President Castro re-
Sarded this note as insulting to his
government and refused to have any
thing more to do with NJ. Taigny. But
the French government refused to al
low the dispute to be made a personal
one and declared that NJ. Taigny in his
lresentment had followed precisely the
instructions of his foreign office.
At this point Mr.. Russell, the Amer
lean minister at Caracas, interviewed
in the interest of peace, and after many
patient exchanges it was believed h.
had finally succeeded. But while he
a note refusing to do business with NJ
raigny, which note the French gov
ernment regarded as offensive, he could
rot prevail upon President Castro to
resume his official relations with the
French charge The climax came on
New Years day when the French gov
eminent, supposing that a satisfactory
settlement had been reached, received
With the usual honors of the New
Years day reception the Venezuelan
minister at Paris, only to learn that
President Castro had refused to do like
wise for NJ. Tagny at Caracas.
The omission touched the pride of
the French government which felt it
had been made the victim of double
dealing and deception, which fact the
French ambassador in Washington was
not slow to communicate to the state
department.
Mr.. Russell reported his failure to
effect a settlement, thereby making
himself unpopular in Caracas, and then
came notice from the French govern
ment that diplomatic relations with
Venezuela were completely severed.
There is a hint of punitive measures
on the part of France and the situa-
ton is regarded officially as very un-
pleasant. with possibilities of serious
consequences