Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-23
EXPELLED BY CASTRO
Dutch Minister to Caracas
Given Passports.
HOLLAND Is PLACATED
Told That Venezuela Is Anxious to
Retain Friendship.
FIVE NATIONS UNREPREsENTED
Trouble Grew Out Of Correspondence
Over Plague and Relations
With Curacoa,

CARACAS, Venezuela, July 23.-Presi-
dent Castro has expelled ]. H. De Reus,
the minister resident of the Netherlands.
from Venezuela.
The minister's passports were sent to
him by Senior Paul, the Venezuelan min
lister of foreign affairs. With them Senior
Paul sent letter in which he said:
I'm view of the opinions expressed in
your published letter of April g. President
Castro, who Is intrusted with the guar
dianship of the national decorum, de-
clares that you are incompetent to serve
as friendly medium in the relations be-
tween this government and the Neither
lands. Consequently. he sends you your
passports. that you may leave Venezuela.
Senior Paul has sent another letter to
the foreign minister of the Netherlands in
which he says in this connections:
This indispensable measure affects only
M De Reus. 1t will not alter the existing
friendly relations between Venezuela and
the Netherlands. Venezuela desires to cul-
tivate these relations. but through another
intermediary. diplomat who would be a
messenger of friendship and harmony"
Another Castro Victim.
NEW YORK. July 23.-Senor Mercado,
another victim Of the dictatorial policy
of President Castro Of Venezuela, arrived
In this city yesterday on the steamer
Zulia, from Puerto Cabello.
Without warming or explanation Castro
issued a decree July IL expelline Senior
Mercado, who Is a Spaniard as IAN un-
desirable foreigner" He said on his
arrival here that he was not yet certain
why he had been expelled, that he had
not meddled In the politics Of the coun-
f0d 49,
On the day the order of expulsion was
issued Senior Mercado was arrested in
caracas and taken to the prefecture Of
police. where the order from Castro was
reao 20 MN. He said it set forth no rea-
sons for the expulsion
senior Mercado was detained as a pris-
oner until the following day. when the
omcfals placed him on a train bound for
fuerto Gabello. in charge of a policel
man. When the Zulia arrived at that
port Senior Mefcado was ordered to hoard
her and leave the country.
several years ago Senior Mercado bui,t
several docks for the Venezuelan govern.
hn en.i was from one Of these that he
senior Mercado sailed with only tho
Giothes ne wore. but his family. who he
lleved that he had gone to Curacao 60
several trunks to that island for him
.n meSe ne received when the steamer
Five Nations Unrepresented
Now that President Castro has thrown
our the diplomatic representative of 49,
Netnerlands government another countr,,
mas been added to the already long Est
OF states that have no intercourse viii,
ing. eo''ons pend
These are France. Colombia tho 1,n,..
States. Great Britain and perhans Itai,
me trouble with NJ. Reus started some
tnree months ago. When the bubonic
plague appeared at La Guaira the govern
Miles OF OF, curacao .h Dutch island eighty
tined venezuela. Castro retaliated with a
decree which prohibited the transshinment
OF merchandise to or from Venezuelan
ports and Curacao.
Later the Venezuelan government sent
note to Holland requesting that stems
be taken to obstruct the filibustering
plans OF the Venezuelan refugees in Gu
racao.. that haven Of the disconnected At
the same time 1t asked that Holland mt
a stop to the smuggling from Curacao.
To this communication Minister De
Reus replied. This was the letter of
April 8. In 1t M. De Reus explained that
the Curacao government could not carry
out all OF President Castros wishes.
Cause Of Complaint.
He insisted that Senior Lopez. the new
Venezuelan consul at Willemstad. had
misinfofmed the Venezuelan government
and had gone to Curacao much preju-
diced against that island. 1t Is believed
that the illusions to the consul were
what most exasperated Castro.
The vindictive measures Of the Venezue-
Ian government have brought about de-
pressed business conditions in Curacao,
and the people of that island have asked
Queen Wilhelmina of Holland to take
steps to improve the relations between the
two countries In a permanent manner.
by Venezuela Of four Dutch vessels plying
between Aruba and Curacao. both Dutch
possessions. and the imprisonment of the
crews: the opening Of official correspond
ence by Venezuelan officials: the prohibit
ing Of foreign laborers from working on
board vessels in Venezuelan ports the de-
cree issued by President Castro prohibit
ing the transshipping of cargoes at Cura-
Gao. and the stopping OF traffic by Dutch
Alo hat 10