New-York tribune., 1908-12-23
GOMEZ NIPS A PLOT
ARRESTS CONSPICUOUS
SINGLE HANDED.
Castro To Be Impeached, and ZEN
ezueIa's Troubles zcith POzcers
To Be Settled

Venezuela OF CiprianO Castro has come The
dictator who has governed the republic ~tth .
rod OF iron ever since he took forcibIe posses
sion OF the Yellow House in Caracas in 1899. Is
now openly charged with conspiracy 70 compass
the assassination OF the man whom Re Iest a.
! the head OF the republic when he sailed On
November 23 from La Guayra. nominauy 70 OBJ
tain medical aid in Berlin for nalady OF long
standing
Castro is to-day thoroughly dlscredtted- The
Bank OF Venezuela has advised by cable It's
correspondents at Berlin and Paris &c canceI the
unlimited letter OF credit given 10 President Cas-
tro when he left Venezuela for Europe. and
one IN Caracas believes that he viii dare
return 70 the capital TIE Castro Cabinet has
been forced to resign. and new and progressive
ministry has been appointed by Juan Vicente
Gomez the acting President
The attempt on the life OF Gomez vas rus
| trated by his cooIness and daring Alone and
unsupported he arrested the ringIeaders % the
conspiracy with his hands In the pressnce
Of their armed adherents. and after this action
he issued proclamation saying that not only
had he saved his own life but had maintained
the highest ideals OF the chief uagistracy OF the
republic.
Already the new administration shows signs
Of desire and an intention 20 settle the disputes
between Venezuela and certain foreign powers
which have kept the republic in light OF unsn-
/ vtabIe notoriety for several years
At conference held in Caracas yesterday be-
/ tween acting President Gomez and Baron von
| seckendorf. the German Minister in charge OF
| the interests OF Holland since the expulsion OF
| the Dutch Minister. NJ Ge Reus. last summer.
| it was agreed suspend the operation OF the
decree issued BY President Castro prohibiting
the traushipnlent at wiIIernstad OF goods dss-
| tine for Venezuela
Pending the consideration OF treaty between
Holland and Z duly empowered Venezueian
commissioner. the Dutch warshiDs that nave
been patroIIing the Venezuelan coast FOR neariy
three weeks viii be Withdrawn
The attempt TO assassinate General Cones
and several OF his ministers was arranged on
Friday night. December IS Gomez heard or the
Mot that same night. and the next morning took
the personal stand which nipped il in the bud
The men concerned in the conspiracy were
President Castro's closest friends and best
known adherents Secret cipher cable dis
matches have passed between President Castro
in Berlin and his agents here since the populap
antf-Castro demonstrations Of December 1s
and Il
4 prominent lawyer has fled accusation
in the High Federal Court. charging President
castro with completely in the plot OF assasstna-
tion and proposing his impeachment
The acting President has ordered the liberia
ton Of all political prisoners
The meeting OF the conspirators was held at
the residence in Caracas Of Garbiras Guznan.
who was Secretary General in the last Castro
Cabinet and was placed in charge q President
Castro's personal business in Venezuela when
the President started for Germany They deter
mined to assassinate Acting President Gomez
Dr. Jose de Jesus Paul the former Foreign Min
lister: General Leopoldo Baptista- and other
prominent men seize the administration of the
country. and with the army terrorizs and over
awe the population
Torres-Cardenas. former Minister OF the
Interior under President Castro. and later his
personal secretary. was the active leader and
had charge of carrying out the plot He had a.
Iieutenauts the commanders OF three battalions-
In spite Of the precautions taken an fntirna-
ton Of what was on foot reached the ears OF
Acting President Gomez As soon as he had
satisfied himself of the truth OF the reports he
took immediate steps 70 frustrate the attempt
Early on Saturday morning he went alone On
foot to the barracks IN Caracas where mutin-
Gus regiment under the command OF Presiderx
Castro's brother was quartered- With remark
able courage he entered the building and placed
the brother OF the President under arrest The
cool nerve Of Gomez made IL possible for him 70
carry out this dangerous mauCEuvre success
fully
He then went 10 the Yellow House the Exec
utive Mansion where he had a brief interview
spirators maintained a defiant attitude and de-
MED the existence OF any plot Gomez would
not be deceived by such assurances. He seized
Torres Cardenas by the shoulders and. shaxin-
him roughly, said
L have discovered your plot 70 assassinats
me You are my prisoner"
Torres Cardenas tried TO use his revolver On
the Acting President. but Gomez was too qutcs<
for him. He pInioned the mans arms and
called the guard Torres -Cardenas was seized
and dlsarmed and hurried away 70 Jail
These two arrests. made single handed ~