Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-24
RETURNING
T0STATE OF SANITY.
Gomez Ready to Settle All Troubles and
Makes 0vertureS to United States
ASKS for Warship Backing.

Washington, Dec. 23.-After an inter
Val Of eight months the United States
government has resumed friendly rela-
! tions with Venezuela. and William l..
Buchanan has left this country on the
cruiser North Carolina in the capacity
| OF a special commissioner to visit that
country, look into the situation and
| make a report. Much will depend upon
tine nature of the communications
which he will make to the state de-
partment, among them the question
whether the United States will grant
formal recognition to the government
as 1t now exists, a decision dependent
upon it's ability to maintain a stable
Institution. 1t has not yet been fully
established that the Gomez government
will retain it's power without trouble,
for there are many adherents of Pres
ident Castro throughout the country.
Indeed the possibility that disorder
may arise is, indicated in the express
sion of desire for an American war
ship at La Guaira, to which wish this
government has promptly responded.
| Secretary Roots face Wore a pleased
expression today when he made the
announcement that it was President
Gomez's wish to settle satisfactorily
all international questions. He has felt
all along that the situation in Venezu-
ella would work itself out, if the Ven
ezuelans were left to themselves 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 at once taken
to indicate the attitude of this govern
ment 1t was explained that such a
reference had been made in the COM
munication which came to the depart
ment through the Brazilian officials.
The general opinion is that the new
order OF things will open the way for
the pacific settlement in some form of
the issues not alone between this coun-
tly and Venezuela, but between the
latter country also and Holland and
France. Word came to the state DE-
partmert this afternoon that the Du1h
government has directed that the ma
val operations which have been con-
Quoted against Venezuela shall cease.
following the news Of the suspension
Of the decree by Venezuela regarding
the ans-shipment of merchandise
from Caracao to Venezuelan ports. 1t
is expected that the Dutch warship
now in that locality will be promptly
withdrawn and that either diplomatic
relations between Holland and Vene-
-.-e'- --il1 10 resnrnAd or q special
message will be dispatched from Hol.
IL. =, Caracas.
The refusal last March by the Cas-
tro administration to consider sepa-
rately the questions of controversy De-
tween the two countries made 1t plain
that diplomacy could accomplish moth
ing further toward their settlement.
This deadlock was made clear to the
United States Senate but Congress ad-
iourned without taking any action III
the matter. The five claims which form
the basis of the last negotiations We're
those of A. F. Jurett, who was expelled
from the country, the Orinoco Corpor-
ation the Ornoco Steamship Co, the
New York and Bermuda Asphalt Co,
ana the United States and Venezuela
Co. the amounts involved running
nominalIy into millions of dollars.
These claims are among those which
President Gomez in general terms has
expressed wish to settle SATISFACTORY
ly. It was Castro's refusal to arbitrate
them that led to the breaking off of
diplo1natic relations with Venezuela
Nv what measures they are to be set
tied is a question for the future.
Sec Root made the following state
ment.
"rhe United States has received an
official communication from the gov
ernment of Venezuela through the Bra
lillian minister at Caracas. expressing
the wish of President Gomez to settle
satisfactorily all international ques-
tions and expressing desire for the
presence of an American warShlp al
La Guaira.
"The United States government has
responded promptly to these overtures
toward the resumption of good un-
derstanGing between the two coun-
tries and William I. Buchanan has LETT
for Venezuela as special commissioner
with instructions CT the most friendly
character.
"a ssuming that the expressed desire
for the presence of an American war
shin at La Guaira indicates the possi-
bilitv of disorder, the President has
considered that it was desirable tn
send an officer of large experience and
dlSCrGtlOn anu, lueieioie 9, iao ESiH =
mirai Arnold with a suitable COM
mand"
Mr.. Buchanan was selected for the
task of re-opening diplomatic relations
with Venezuela because of the univer-
sal regard and esteem in which he is
held in all Latin America. He was
American minister to the Argentine re-
public in President Cleveland's last
administration and succeeded in accom-
plisiiing what was regarded as an al
most impossible undertaking in secur-
ing a reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Argentina, although
this convention was never of practi-
cal effect. He was minister to Panama
at a critical time and member of
number of commissions which have ad-
justed issues of great Importance and of