The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-12
CASTRO RESIGNS FOR WHILE.
PITS THE TICE-PRESTDENT IN
CUiRGE OF VENEZUELA.
Will Probably Take the ReinS Again After
n % nay vacation. but q New Cabinet
WIN Go In Meanwhile TO Handle the
Present Little Blcker With France.

Carlos b. Figueredo, got word from Car
scas yesterday by cable that President
Castro Of Venezuela had resigned on Mon
dsy temporarily. Mr.. Fgueredo said:
Gen. Juan Vicente Gomez, vice-Presi.
dent OF Venezuela, took charge of the Presi
dency. Gen. Castro desires to retire Ia
restful private life for some time, owing Ia
the strcnuous work which his position
exacts and which he has 30 successfully
carried on for the past years.
THE ceremony took place at 4 P. NJ. on
Monday in tho parlor Of the Secretary
General, in the presence Of the executive
Minister'S and the President and members
Of the Supreme and Higher courts. The
PROCLAMATION made by Gen. Castro during
the ceremony may be briefly summarized
as follows.
Peace is assured in the entire republic;
the international situation of the Govern
ment lie clear, as all pending questions will
either be amicably arranged or settled by
arbitration, Gen. Castro urges all Ven
e~zuelans to support the Government pre-
sided over by Gen. Gomez, and adds that
should his temporary separation bring
harmony and good will to the country he
would willingly make his retirement per-
manent If necessary The Ministers and
Governor have presented their designations,
as is usual, 80 as to leave the new Presi-
dent the liberty to select his oollaborators.
1t had been announced that the Presi-
lont ,roe IN uiya ~ tho nn1Oa a > A 1,olooly
Monday afternoon. At 5 o'clock Gen.
Castro rode through the city in an open
carriage with some of his friends. The
streets we're crowded and everywhere
the people saluted him with cheers. Low
ing Castro az they do, there 10 no doubt that
they will be satisfied with President Gomez,
because he is Gen. Castro's dearest friend"
The trouble with France, )" Mr.. Figueredo
added, is now in a fair way to be adjusted
by a board of arbitration; the little I'm
pleasantness with Colombia has peer for
gotten; the difficulty with Germany over
railroad concessions is a thing of the past,
and the asphalt controversy has been
dropped, so that there is the most cordial
relations between Venezuela and the United
States. Why shouldn't Pre- sident Castro
now take the rest that he deserves? When
be takes up his work again, perhaps in
three months, he will probably reappoint
bis old Cabinet officers, 40 that they, too,
will have only a short rest
The Consul said that his wife and daughter
returned on Tuesday from a two months
visit in Venezuela, and that while they
we're there Mrs. Figueredo was often a
guest of the President and Mrs. Castro.
The President spoke often Of the anticipated
Pleasures of his vacation and was looking
forward to it with almost boyish eagerness,
Mrs. Fgueredo said.
Consul Figueredo said that President
Castro will not leave Venezuela during
the summer, but will spend his whole period
Of rest at his country homes in Los Feques,
La Victoria and Maracay, all of which are
only about an hours ride from Caracas.
President Castro resigned in 1903, but
the Congress decided not to accept his
resignation, and he remained. That was
soon after England, Germany and Italy had
hIockaded ports of Venezuela in enforcing |
their demands that claims held by these
Countries against Venezuela should be
satisfied. 1t was said then hat Castro's
resignation was due chiefly to the state
''N''' 'RlNoN ny III ICNOlu- 1
ttonists that the President was the only
barrier to the reestablishment Of peace.
Castro has been President since 1890, when
he descended upon Caracas with a band of
faithful mountaineers and overthrow An
drade, There has been something doing
most OF the time since Castro got control
OF the Government. The most serio us
muss that he got into was the one referred
10 above, when the German, English and
Italian fleets blockaded his ports. The
allied forces seized his feet and Castro re-
pied by arresting all the British and German
in Caracas, who we're released
on the following day through the remon-
1T the United States Minister. The
good offices of the United States were
nnaly offered in the matter and the Powers
to a settlement of their claims
oy commissions, the other points to be
referred y to the Hague Tribunal.
Castro was reelected in 1906 for six years.
lhe state Of affairs in Venezuela has been
an lmost constant source Of trouble 10 the
at Washingto The relations
Mr. Bowen, the United States Minis
Caracas and Castro became 20 strained
At year that the Minister asked to be
recalled The trouble grew chiefly out OF
over the asphalt concessions
"mch the Venezuelan courts revoked at the
instance Of President Castro.
oastro's latest muddle is with France,
Smoh only a few weeks ago broke of
automatic relations with him, and French
interests are now being watched by
me United States representative. The
nmeulty concerns chiefly the French
able Company's concession from the
,enezuelan Government. Two years ago
-astro began proceedings in his courts to
Ihnui the concession, and the courts finally
it.
NJ iaigny, Charge d'Affaires for France, {
ooA the matter up and demanded a settle {
nen'' Castro wrote to the French Gov
nnent refusing to have anything more
' 40 with NJ. Taigny. There was an i'm I
neuate protest from France and French
rrAfsups were ordered to the West Indies.
'lance demanded that Taigny be recog-
aE0u, PRESIDENT Castro said he was :
'nended with NJ. Taigny personally and !
.At ne did not intend to affront France. I
'IaIy Castro withdrew the note he wrote
= u, lalgny, but did not resume relations {
mn VA MN and M. Taigny withdrew. !
""sHiNGroN, April ll.-Although Presi- =
t ,asto his intention to
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