The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-10
Will Be Examined by Berlin Specialists Incidentally, and Is Determined to Land
 in France.
NO FEAR OF HUMILIATION
Tells Home Going French Minister to Peru He Will Make Conccs- sions---Feels Friendly
 Toward Us.

Santander, Spain, Dec. B. The French steamship Guadeloupe, with President Castro of Venezuela on board, came in here to-day. It was ] learned soon after her arrival that President Castro will continue on board the steamship to Bordeaux, and that from Bordeaux he will travel overland to Berlin.
 President Castro, 1t Is said here, las come to Europe with the intention of settling all Venezuela's international quarrels. lis general health is re- ported good
 1 The Guadeloupe came into Santan- der flying the flag of Venezuela. In addition to President Castro there were on board his wife. his sister, two aides and three physicians.
 The mystery of the presidents trip to Europe was dispelled very soon after the Guadeloupe dropped anchor The reports that Castro Is critically Ill, that he was deserting Venezuela for ! ANfAs tNNsp hGtf spGthllA pIOHpulItu absurd, and it was declared he came ! to Europe with the double purpose of being examined by European spe- clalists and to settle Venezuela's out standing differences with foreign pow I CTS, As President Castro s his own minister of foreign affairs, he is con- I fident of being able to conduct the ne- 1 gotiations to this end to 8 successful conclusion, and he believes that ne will return to Caracas in February with Venezuela at peace with the world.
 President Castro was found in his cabin. shaving. He laughed heartily at the fantastic rumors regarding nis purposes and plans that have been in circulation recently. The doctors said that the presidents general con dition was excellent. and that he had ! derived great benefit from the voyage over. He spent hours every day ! promenading the deck and chatting freely with ais fellow passengers; in fact he was the life of the ship. The attending physicians explained that Castro desired to consult European specialists regarding the advisability of an operation. He has been suffer- ing for some years with something in the nature of tumor.
 The president of Venezuela paid no hcal to the warnings of the venezue- Ian consuls, who talked with him on board the Guadeloupe. that he might not he permitted to land in France. J The consuls feared that the president i might be humiliated if he continued on board the Guadeoupe to Bor- deaux But Castro brushed these warnings aside and announced that he 1 had started for Bordeaux, and that was where he was going. During the voyage over he had a number of long talks with NJ. Merleou, the French minister to Peru, who was fellow passenger. He explained his inten tons to M. Merleou, and showed the minister number of documents which. so far as the French govern ment is concerned, Castro believes will have the effect of changing the gov- ernment's attitude toward him He asserted specifically to M. Merleou. that he was ready to make important nt concessions in order to restore amicl- able relations with France.
 Tine Venezuelan president said als6 that ne expected to arrange the dif1i- cutes of his government with the United States, including the asphalt affair