The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-10
VENEZUELAN SAYS GOODBYE Diplomatic Relations Are Severed. G0TTIc0A LEAVES HIS POST Charge in Washington Serves
 Notice. Explains to state DspsrtmsBt Thst withdrswai of Mir. sleeper from
 Caracas Make. rAis Course
 Imperative.


 relations e-btween America and ven- ezuela that have existed uninterrupted ly for more than half century, though in recent years severely strained, were today completely servered.
 This afternoon senor veioz Goiticoa, the Venezuela Charge d'Affairs called at the State Department by appoint ment to present to Acting Secretary Bacon notice from his government that he was to quit his post here, close up the Venezuelan legation in washing ton and repair forthwith to venezuela
 The Charge explained to the acting secretary that the action of the State Department in withdrawing Jacob Sleeper. the American charge from Caracas and in closink up It's legation there, made 1t necessary for his gov ernnnent to take similar action in the case Of its own legation in Washington.
 Just what took place between Acting Secretary Bacon and the charge cannot be known beyond the fact that the lat ter presented his letters Of recall He made no demand for his passports nor could he do so consistently in view of the fact that Foreign Minister Paul had declined to issue such passports to the American charge when he with drew from Caracas on the ground that there was no necessity for passports;
 
 and his person not being threatened in any way.
 Consnls win Remain.
 senor veioz Goiticoa did communi- cate to Mir. Bacon the fact that the files and papers of the Venezuelan ie- gation would be placed in the custody of senor Jacobo Phimental, the vene- zuelan consul general in New York. This statement Is regarded as an indi- Na fiAa that 4hh UA&A@uA1an 0avarufnANf will follow the precedent established by the United States in refraining from interfering with trade by closing the consulates. notwithstanding the breach in diplomatic relations. It is pointed out by officials who have followed closely the developments in the Venezuelan situation that there is not the slightest danger of war in the immediate futre, or indeed. at all. Rather will the situation resemble that following the rupture of diplomitic re- lattons between France and Venezuela for instance, where legations were closed on both sides ana ali official re- iations terminated while trade between the two countries continued.
 The history of these episodes in the case of Venezuela is very much aiikes Mir. veloz Goiticoa's withdrawal fol- lows that of Minister Russell as dip- lomatic representative of the United States to Venezuela about two months ago and that of Mr. Sleeper, the sec retary of legation and Lieutenant Rug gies. the military attaehe about two weeks since. AaAs 4l.5
 The reason for the withdrawel of the American legation at Caracas arose from the persistent refusal of vene- zueia to give redress for the govern mental action by which all American interests in Venezuela were either de- stroyed or conhscated. or to submit the claims of American citizens to arbitra- ton.
 Claims Against venezueIa.
 There were five of these claims in all. Those of A. Fajurett. the orfnoeo Cor poration. the orinoco Steamship Com pany. the New New and Berrnudez Asphalt Company. and the Critchfeld Concession.
 For long time past the American Government has been making efforts to secure a settlement of these claims, various attempts having been made by proceeding administrations, Secre- tary Root having gone so far at one time as to lay down what was regard ed almost as an ultimatum.
 Secretary Root took up the matter in February, 1907. in a letter to Minis ter Russell, instructing him to demand remedy and redress. Mir. Russell, hOWcVeEs was. unaDIo 10 ODtaln any sat- isfaction from the Castro Government which adhered to its position that there was no reason why Venezuela should arbitrate the claims.
 Then President Roosevelt determined to send the whole correspondence bear ing upon the claims and showing the efforts made by the United States to have them arbitrated to Congress, the President and Secretary Root deenaing 1t best to leave to that body the deter imitation of the question of what, if anything, should be done by this Gov. er1ment to bring Castro to terms.
 Long before the recent session closed, it was evident that the Senate would not initiate any action, alth ough MT Root appeared before the Commit tee on Foreign Relations repeatedly to discuss the situation.
 Public opinion, it was declared. had not crystalized sufficiently to warrant the Senate in taking action, while per- sons and firms having commercial in- terests in Venezuela which might be effected by punitive measures, were urging that action be delayed.
 Venezuela and Holland.
 Washington. July 9-RecaIlinx past events, the State Department Is watch ing with no little interest the out