The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-09
WRATH AGAINST VENEZUELA
NO COERCION BY U. s. WITHOUT
POPULAR SENTIMENT.

TampeFing with TaeOma'S Mall Was Not
archaeological Insults 10 President
and Secretary Root In Caracas News
paPeu-me Asphalt Trust Handicap.
WASHINGTON. April ga decided feeling
Of irritation exist In Government circles
over the Venezuelan situation. President
Castro's attitude Of resistance 10 the pro-
posal Of Secretary Root for the submission
Of pending American claims TO arbitration
brought ~vexation 10 the Washington adj
ministration. but this has given way to
real anger since the publication Of inspired
articles in Caracas newspapers criticising
President Roosevelt and Secretary Root.
The Government in is present temper
would be glad Of opportunity to use drastic
measures against Venezuela, but II feels
that Il would be unwise 10 make any radi-
cal move without the support Of popular
opinion. Unfortunately for the Govern
ment's purpose the Venezuelan situation
10 little understood by the American peO-
pie and there has been no general express
sion Of sentiment to indicate whether a
policy Of coercion would or would not meet
with widespread appreciation.
Until there is such an expression Of popu-
lar feeling against Venezuela the Admins
tration will make no move. This much has
been made clear 10 the members Of the SEN
ate Committee on Foreign Relations, most
OF whom are Of the opinion that any other
course would be indiscreet. But how to
arouse public sentiment has not been deter
mined.
The irst step In the programme was the
transmission TO the Senate OF all the diplo-
matte correspondence in the Ave cases at
issue. but this was 50 voluminous and the
controversies involved are 80 complicated
that an adequate presentation Of the position
Of the United States could not be set forth
in the press in q way that would be easily
understood by newspaper readers, As a
result the Venezuelan correspondence at
tracted little attention.
Another prospective embarrassment lies
in the fact that one Of the American claim
ants against Venezuela is the so-called
asphalt trust. Some doubt az to the justice
Of tie claim has been expressed and In addi-
ton to that complication this is a campaign
ledI dilu VIC hulilllllbNt dllOn AllhhA lliAh ~
unpopular and Improbable to adopt radical
measures to benefit a big corporation. The
chief officials Of the Government are in
%sistent, however, that 1t is not a question OF
whether a trust is~involved, but sst to whether
Venezuela shall be permitted to continue a
course Of absolute destruction Of every
American enterprise in that country.
Until approving public sentiment jus
tifes il the Administration will make nc
move to bring Venezuela TO terms. Tenta-
tive plans have been arranged for au-
thorization by Congress to place a surtaI
on Venezuelan products, and if necessary
TO take more stringent measures, perhaps
to the extent Of declaring a peaceful block
AIDE Of Venezuelan ports. In the meantime
nothing will be done by the Government.
No scheme TO use the army or the navy
In carrying out the proposed policy has
been formulated, and while the navy may
be called on ultimately 10 enforce a block
ade there is no intention to assign any
part OF the army to Venezuelan service.
The tampering with the mail bags in
tended for the United States cruiser Ia
coma several weeks ago by the authorities
OF the La Guayra post Office was explained
to-day upon the arrival Of a mail report Of
the incident from Commander John hood
Of the Tacoma. Two letter bags had been
opened, but their contents we're intact.
The bag containing registered mail was
not opened. Nothing WIS missing from
either Of the bags which had been opened.