Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-24
Members Of American To-
cation Quit Venezuela.
Various Acts Of Castro's Gov
eminent Blamed for Rupture.
Y enezueIa Is Also In Trouble With
Other Countries.

can legation are awaiting the arrival
of the United States gunboat Marietta
at Porto Cabello. the warship having
been ordered there for the purpose of
transferring them to the United States
Jacob Sleeper, who has been acting as
charge d'affaires since the departure
of the American minister, w. w. Rus
sell, and Lieut.. Francis A. Ruggles,
the military attache, withdrew from
the legation at Caracas on Saturday
and proceeded to Porto Cabello. The
interests Of the United States were
placed in charge of the Brazilian lega-
ton as the representatives of the Eu-
ropean nations are having considera-
BILE friction with President Castro's
government. The American consular
agent, John Brewer, remains here in
charge of the archives.
President Castro returned here sud
denly few days ago after a long alb
sence in the interior and his arrival
attracted much attention. All kinds of
rumors are current and the withdraw
al Of the representatives of the Unit
ed States is not quite understood by
Venezuelans. 1t is probable. too, that
there will be an early rupture with
1Aolihhu, anu tiiCAO are ICpOIlS tLldI u
revolution against the administration
is being organized in Colombia As
matters stand now the United States.
France and Colombia have no relations
with Venezuela. Great Britain and
Holland have serious questions pend
ing with the government; Germany
alone having no dispute.
Before his withdrawal from the le-
cation, Mr.. Sleeper sent a note to the
government asking for passports. This
note was answered in very considerate
language and the American charge
was Informed that passports were un-
necessary, inasmuch as he personally
was persona grata and that diplomatic
immunity would continue until he
was on board the Marietta, there be-
ing no question of war involved. The
communication to Mr.. Sleeper extend
ed to him the cordial wishes of the ad-
minstration for a happy voyage.
The recent diplomatic friction be-
tween Venezuela and Holland over the
closing of Venezuelan ports to Dutch
vessels, and President Castro's decree
prohibiting the trans shipment of car
go in the island of Curaco, reached q
crisis several days ago, when the Pres
ident vigorously answered q note sent
to him by the Dutch minister, J. H. De
Rus, protecting against this decree and
criticizing the Venezuelan at Wilhelm
stadt.
Washington. June 23.-The state de-
partrent today received official noti-
ficatiOn of the departure of Jacob
Sleeper, secretary of the American le-
cation at Caracas, Venezuela. Mr..
Sleepers departure leaves the United
States without diplomatic represent
tative in the South American repub-
lie. The affairs of the legation will be
looked after by a representative OF the
Brazilian legation.
Fer the past three years, since
questions between the United States
and Venezuela first arose, Minister
Russell has been unable to get any
satisfaction from the Venezuelan gov
eminent. While the fact that the Unit
ed States has no diplomatic represen-
tative in that country, may result in
the representative Of the Venezuelan
government being withdrawn no ad-
vices had been received at the Vene-
zuelan legation late tonight.
The present situation, in diplomatic
terms, is known as a state of expect
ancy The questions in dispute be-
tween this country and Venezuela has
been in the hands of the solicitor of
the state department for the past few
days but no satisfaction has been CIV
en- the American representatives by
President Castro. The plague which
exists in nearly all Of the Venezuelan
ports may have induced Mr.. Sleeper
to obtain leave of absence at this
time. Second Assistant Secretary OF
State Alvey A. Adee Is acting in the
absence of Mr.. Root and Mr.. Bacon.
the first assistant. 1t Is understood
that the real issues between the Unit
ed States and Venezuela are the out
come principally of the American
claims against that country growing
out of the cancellation by the govern
ment Of that country Of various con-
cessions to American corporations and
individuals which have been the sub
ject Of report to Congress by the Presi-
dent.
Our government has endeavored to
obtain a settlement Of these claims
by arbitration but has met with re-
fusal at every point. Recent develop
ments growing out of the outbreak Of
bubonic plague in Venezuelan ports
and the disregard by Venezuela OF
treaty obligations to enforce sanitary
calculated to prevent the
spread of the terrible disease to the
North American continent have caused
the present rupture. 1t is also known
that the attitude Of the United States
government in view of the part Il has
taken in the past in protecting Vene-
zuela against the demands of European
powers has led to representations by
those powers to this government to
the effect having assumed certain re-
sponsibilities toward other civilized
nations In thus intervening, 1t il now
the duty Of this government to COM
pei Venezuela to observe international
not only in the matter of
them from infection by
the plague, but in recognizing Just laws
Of foreign countries. Bid
The inability Of the United States
to meet the obligations without resort
to certain compulsory measures which
might involve war is believed to be the
true explanation of the course Of the
state department in Determining. tliplD.