Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
FRIENDLY TERMS
WITH VENEZUELA
WILLIAM !. BUCHANAN is MADE
SPECIAL COMMISSIONER TO
NEW GOVERNMENT.
SECRETARY ROOT PLEASED AT
PRosPEcT-DisoRDER MAY
YET ARISE.

Washington, Dec. 27.-After an in
terval of eight months the United
States government has resumed
frie ndly relations with Venezuela and
William l. Buchanan has left this
country on the cruiser North Caro-
lima in the capacity of special COM
missioner to visit that country, look
into the situation and report Much
will depend on the nature of the COM
munications he will make to- the state
department, among them the ques-
ton whether the United States will
accord formal recognition to the gov
eminent as it now exists, a decision
dependent upon its ability to main
tain stable institutions and to fulfill
its treaty obligations. 1t has not yet
been fully established that the Gomez
government will retain it's power with
out trouble, for there are many adj
herents of Castro throughout the
country. Indeed the possibility that
disorder may arise is indicated in
the expression of a desire for Amer
lean warships at Laguaira, to which
wish this government has promptly
responded
Secretary Roots face wore a
pleased expression yesterday when he
made announce ment that it was Pres
ident Gomez wish to settle satisfac-
torily all international questions. He
has felt all along that the situation IN
Venezuela would work itself out, If
the Venezuelans were left to them
selves. Some significance was at first
attached to the fact that Mr.. Root had
referred to Gomez as president IN
his statement to the press, and this
was taken to indicate at once an attl-
tude of recognition of the govern
ment. 1t was explained, however, that
such reference to him had been made
in the communication which came to
the department through Brazilian Of
ficials.
The general opinion is that the
new order of things will open the
way for pacific settlement in some
form of the issues, not alone be-
tween this country and Venezuela bit
between the latter country and Hol-
land and France. Word came to the
state department yesterday afternoon
that the Netherlands government had
given directions that the military op-
erations which had been conducted
against Venezuela cease, Following
the news of the suspension OF decree
by Venezuela regarding the trans
shipment of merchandise from Cura-
Gao to Venezuelan ports. 1t Is e2
nected that the Dutch warship now In
that locality will be promptly with
drawn and that either the diplomatic
relations between Holland and Vene-
zuela will be resumed. or, anticipating
that a special mission be dispatched
from Holland to Caracas, as In the
case of the United States with Mr.
Buchanan.
The refusal in March last by the
Castro administration to conslder
separately the questions OF controVer-
sv betewen the two countries maze
Dialn ludI UlPlOHoNy
complish nothing further toward their
settlement. This deadlock was mace
clear tn the United States senate but
congress adjourned without taxing
action in the matter The five claims
which form the basis of the last ne
ootiations were those of A. F. Jurett'
who was expelled from the country
the Orinoco Corporation, the Orlnoco
Steamship company, the New forh
and Bermudez Asphalt company and
tho United States and Venezuela COM
many the amounts involved running
nominally into millions OF dollars.
These claims are among those wnlch
comez in general terms has expressed
wish to settle satisfactorily. IL was
castro's refusal to arbitrate them
that led to the breaking off OF eipio-
matte relations with Venezuela BY
what measures they are to be se'tieo
is a question of the future.
7, 1909 the Venezuelan government
having failed to satisfy the clainis
AGAINST it by various powers, Great
Rritain. Germany and Italy blockaaeu
tho ,uo,,ts of that country with a vie"
tn a foroeful collection of deDts. ven
ezuela appointed Herbert w Bowen
then American minister to Venezueia'
as commissioner to take up the ques-
tion with the various governments
and he signed protocols with them
whereby certain percentage OF the
cust oms receipts of some OF the poi1s
was to be set aside to satisfy Claims
The blockading powers were hhaoe