Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
fRANCEAND VENEZUELA
Punishment to Be Melted Cut to
Castro.
WAR TALK NOT SERIOUS
No Infraction Of the Monroe Doctrine
Possible
EUROPEAN POWERS FEEL PITY
For What They Believe Are Nisg'iid-
ed South American Politicians
No New Territory Wanted.
EUROPEAN POWERS FEEL PITY

What is going to be the result of Presi-
dent Castro's blunder in automatically ig-
noring NJ. Oliver Taigny, the French charge
d'affaires at Caracas. on New Year day!
Nothing will be the result. save wound
to If. Taigny's pride. And he Is very
proud gentleman, is M. Taigny. whom
met about FIVE years ago, when ne was
second secretary of the French embassy
under M. Jules Cambon. now ambassador
from France 10 the court of SPAIN. so
replied diplomat to question propounded
to him by a representative of The Star. 1t
must be said that. although this diplomat
Is not connected with either france OF
Venezuela, he Is cognizant of the situation
and lives in one Of the countries vitality IN
terested in the troublesome republic.
But If you ask me what will happen be-
cause of the South American governments
unwarrantable action In forbidding M.
Taigny to return to terra firma TO get his
effects, then / will tell you that Castro
will live to regret it, There Is no denying
that such action would have been dan
gerous even from the most powerful govern
ment; who, then. can you imagine Will toll
crate such an insult from Venezuela? PROP
ably, If France will withhold her impetuos-
ity, it Is because she is truly the greatest
diplomatic nation and recognizes the tutii-
ity of taking to task little republic which.
If viewed from a broad point, has no right
to be- 1t Is causing the United States. as
exponent of the Monroe doctrine more
trouble than Spain did at the time OF the
war. Its petty annoyances bother. also,
such governments as the British, Italian
and German.
THE Monroe doctrine will have no effect
in the imbroglio. except theoretically. be-
cause its purpose Is to guard against acqui-
sition Of American territory by the Euro
pean powers, which, excepting Germany,
are not trying to expand their colonies-at
least in South America. The United States
will be merely an onlooker, inasmuch as she
Is responsible for the peace Of the new
world. and because, in the ever-memorable
words of Mr.. Olney the fat of the United
States on this continent is supreme The
United States Is only to be host to the
French. as 1t was when Teutons and Sax
ons and Latins met about three years ago,
apropos of the railway Venezuela wished to
build. But, as Lord Lansdowne once said,
the Venezuelan Is only happy when he Is
fighting, and that his country has had 104
revolutions in seventy years. I won't COM
ment on this, whether 1t Is exaggerated or
not. but you must agree that this IS practi-
cally so. Venezuela, like individuals, must
pay the price Of her own folly. and fighting
Is expensive, even in Venezuela But the
Monroe doctrine is silent on fighting.
Interest Of United States.
Americas peculiar relation to warlike
occurrences in this hemisphere makes it in
cumbent upon the administration to proceed
with great caution. There 4. no reason to
doubt that the administration will make the
sole application of the doctrine which the
Venezuelan premises call for; that is to
say. that no permanent occupation Of Amer
lean territory be contemplated. 1t Is IN
derstood that this government has received,
more than once, stipulations to that effect.
All that the United States Is pledged to
withstand-and Secretary Root, as well as
the President. declare 1t so-fs territorial
acquisitions In this hemisphere by Euro
pean powers. After that this country may
think what 1t pleases OF the justice or In
Justice Of the claims made on or demanded
OF Venezuela This country, I assure you,
remains perfectly cool about what Is going
on between France and the little republic.
There Is no cause to misuse the fiction
of International law. known as the pacific
blockade in this case. France Is too SEN
sible to declare war against Venezuela. 1t
Is only going to demand satisfaction. which
Venezuela must give. because 1t Is not
strong enough to resent It, Napoleon acted
more or less In the same manner as Cas-
tro but the latter has not Naooleons abll-
!ty to back up his DEGREES by force Pacific
blockades are over nowadays. having been
specifically condemned by the Institut de
DroH International In 1874.
THE United States cannot assume to for
bid foreign powers Furnishing South Amer
lean republic which has injured d foreign
citizen resident in Its territory, unless II is
all foreign residents and all foreign prop
erty from violence. spoliation and insult,
either singly or collectively. The United
States. to be broader in explanation. can
not assume to forbid foreign powers from
collecting debts due from South Ameri-
can republic by the summary proceedings
which are the only ones available for that
purpose, unless 1t Is prepared to assume
such debts. In other words. the United
States cannot maintain an efficient protect
crate over these communities unless II Is
prepared to assume the responsibilities and
exercise the authority which such pro-
tectorate necessarily Involves. President
Roosevelt has practically said that the
United States do not care for so much bur-
den
An Irresponsible Politician
TT must be remembered that weakness
is sometimes an incentive to vexattous
wrongdoing. Much is known by now of
President Castro. and what is known points
him out as an irresponsible and ieady pol
ftician, whom revolution has put into pow
er. and who cares little or nothing for the
national welfare, provided, in the game OF
politics, he can keep his place by arousing
a war fever in the population whose IN
tereStS he miSrepreSentS.
The race In ITSELF with its inheritance
of national traits. the mixed blood. the re-
ligion such as 1t exists. the division of peo-
pie into castles. the entire lack of national
republican ideas, Is one OF the obstacles, but
greater one Is the existence OF the pro-
fessional semi-mirtary politician: one day
a guerrilla chief. the next q minister of at
u pTesioSHt ONO IffOmSHt, Inc next d
political refugee.
France is tired of being battered from
right to left by such a conglomeration of
nonenities: to have her natural prestige
trified with by country which can get
nothing from the powers but a feeling OF
profound pity. Her purpose OF a naval
demonstration Is wholly punitory 1t is to
exact redress. hitherto refused. for wrongs
which a French representative has suf-
fered at the hands of President Castro
Late N 1908, when President Roosevelt
in his annual message gave a new defiui-
ton of the Monroe doctrine, when he up
held the principle that European govern
ment has the right not only to fnffict ex-
emplary damages on an American republic
for insults to ITS flag or its official repre-
sentatives. or for wrongs perpetrated on its
subjects. but also to resort to the same
process of violent coercion for the coliec-
ton of ordinary debts. objection was made
by alarmists, declaring that the President
had undertaken too much In defining the
doctrine. inasmuch as Monroe, It Is al
legged, prohibited any interference by Eu-
ropean powers for the purpose Of expressing
them, or controlling In any other manner
their destiny. These objections are being
made by a few newspapers and individuals
claiming that Frances show OF force for
redress Is understandable and against the
principles Of Monroe. But It IL not 90.
Monroe gave display, In formulating his