The Washington herald., 1908-04-21
The Proposed Spanking of Castro"


The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. press is in
clined to be suspicious of the proposal
that Castro needs a spanking at this
particular juncture. It is pointed out that
the Venezuelan autocrat does not need a
spanking any worse just now than he
has needed it for the past five years. and
it is felt that the administration Of a
spanking during the heat of a Presidential
campaign might lead to more pyro-
technics than were desirable or necessary
rs it possible" asks the New York
Times. that a half-drawn sword shall
be placed in the hands Of the President
on the eve of a national election unless
the circumstances absolutely demand it,
And the Baltimore Sun thinks that Ito
arm President Roosevelt with the author
ity to make war upon a foreign nation
during the exigencies of a Presidential
campaign is a dangerous business" The
sun alludes 10 the belief of some OBJ
servers that the Venezuelan claims have
been brought forward for the purpose of
creating a diversion for political effect.
An examination Of the chronology of the
diplomatic correspondence relating 10
these claims, extending over period OF
eight years, viii show, however, that the
present state of the Negotiations. which
have virtually reached an impasse
through the fat refusal of the Venezuelan
government to agree to arbitration, is a
natural elimination Of what has gone be-
fore tt IS true that the President
migst have sought authority for spank
ing Castro last year. or that he might
postpone the proposed discipline until
some period in the future; but it is also
true that the coincidence OF the vene-
zuelan crisis with the Presidential cam
paign Is really due to the forhearance Of
the American government in giving Vene-
zIela one more chance TO avoid trouble
This was done in February last, when, in
response 10 Secretary Roots final plea
for arbitration of the questions in dis
pute, the Venezuelan minister for foreign
affairs, declaring that none OF these ques-
tions called for diplomatic action, asked
that the United States consider the whole
matter closed, the parties interested hav-
ing the right Of recourse to the tribunals
Of justice Of the Venezuelan republic
should they deem fit
re doubt whether the administration is
anxious to open hostuities with Venezuela
Tor the enforcement of the arbitration
thus far refused The political effect Of
warlike operations against the south
American republic might be the reverse
of favorable TO the party in power, Fer
such operations would be certain to be
costly if they We're effective, and the ex-
pense would be entailed in behalf Of a
dubious cause No enthusiasm could be
worked up for a military campaign in
tended 70 avenge the wrongs of a con-
ccvn which secretly aided revolution in
the hope Of overthroWing Castro and gain
ing advantage thereby. Diplomatic casu-
lists may argue as they please, but the
central fact in our Venezuelan con-
tr0versy is that President Castro feels
Jhat he has been deeply wronged by the
conduct of the principal claimant in the
American case. Our government argues
that Notwithstanding this conduct. the
claim should be submitted 10 arbitration.
plea which may be technically correct,
but hardly one to arouse the popular
sense Of injury 10 such an extent as to
demand bloodshed. At all events, It seems
incredible that Congress would give the
President a free hand in the Venezuelan
affair without having at least a tacit un-
der7tanding as TO the mode OF discipline
intended to be resorted te, and it may
develop that this understanding does not
include military Or naval pyrotechnics on
the shores OF the Caribbean.