The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-09-02
Veuezue1a's Side.


this country that our government
must be right in the dispute with
Venezuela, therefore Castro's govern
ment is In the wrong. Both cannot be
right or there would be no dispute.
Venezuela claims that her attitude Is
right and legal, and it Is conceded by
those who are familiar with Castro's
argument that there Is room for hon
orable difference of opinion at least.
For instance, In the case OF the Ber-
mudez Asphalt company, which has
been heavily fined by the Venezuelan
courts and its concession by the gov
eminent Cancelled, 1t is Castro's con-
tention that. the company originally
agreed to abide by the decisions of his
courts in all disputes with the govern
ment arising under the contract and,
furthermore, that the company sup
piled money to finance revolution
against the established government Of
Venezuela.
If Venezuela's claim is supported on
every point by evidence as strong as
that presented showing completely
with conspiracy, it is not strange that
Castro's government betrays exas-
peration over repeated efforts to re-
open cases that have been passed
upon by the courts and by arbitration
boards. The revolution In question
began in January, 1902. In Novem-
Der, 1901, the Bermudez Asphalt COM
pany, which is known as ''the as
phalt trust" paid the leader Of the
uprising, General Matos, 100000. In
! July, 1901, four months before the
money was paid, Matos visited the
officers of the trust in New York. The
deal Of the trust with Matos was de.
scribed by the president Of the COM
pany. General F. W. Greene, in testi'
nony before a special commission
three years ago. Said General Greene:
When I returned from Europe in Octo.
Der, 1901 was surprised to learn from
the trusts executive officers that during
| my absence they had decided to support
| Matos in his contest with Castro. l told
them that I thought they had made
great mistake, because what they had
done was mo- acting in good faith with
the state department at Washington
/ which up to that time and largely on rep
RESERVATIONS made by me to Secretary
Hay had supported the Bernudez com.
pany to such an extent az to enable 1t tc
continue in possession Of its property.
told them that my own judgment wal
ALI Tow $ha
to pursue was to rely upon the support
OF the state department at Washington
This however, they said was impossible
for they had already made arrangement
to support Matos and If he should sue
coed, as they thought he would, the com
pany would then be able to protect IT:
interests In Venezuela.
The money was paid over to Mato!
in spite of the warning, and Mato:
failed in his attempt to overthrow the
government, as General Greene pre-
dicted.
, Some of the claims which the Unit
ed States has recently asked to hav'
= submitted to arbitration have alread.
been arbitrated adversely to the claim
ant, and others, Venezuela declares
are not proper for reference to an ar
bitration tribunal. One Of the last /
claim Of the same nature as one al
ready arbitrated adversely to til
: claimant, and it Is preferred by tn
9 company which made the previou
f claim. Castro cites as q preceden
; for his refusal to rearbitrate the poll
cy Of this government when request
ed to reopen q case that had been de
q cided by arbitration. To appeal TO
{ reopening Secretary Hay replied a
0 follows:
e failure to comply with the awar
would involve q grave discourtesy to tn
. eminent arbitrator who sat in this cas-
and serious injury to the cause OF arb!
t tration.
= Venezuela applied the above word
!. of Secretary Hay to the reopening G
the cases already decided by the al
bitration commission Of 1908. Thi
t arbitration tribunal passed upon fifty
|. five American claims against the Yer
J, ezuelan government for damages al
e gregating over $16,000,000, Of whic
j. $3.50, $50, or less than s per cent Of th
v sum claimed, was awarded to th
= American claimants.