The Cairo bulletin., 1908-04-01

Washington, March 31.-The long
expected correspondence between
America and Venezuela RESPECTING
pending American claims against the
latter country was submitted to the
Senate today ana is almost certail
H. create a profound impression.
1t will be difficult to digest the vast
mass of material which Secretary
Root has placed before Congress, hut
even cursory inspection of the docu-
ments makes il evident that negotia
tions have REACHED critical phase
The presidents realization of that
fact is shown by his transmission OF
the matter to the senate without com
ment, regarding the correspondence,
and especially Roots strong presenta-
tion of the American case as suffi-
cient to instantly enlist the attention
OF congress.
All correspondence and documents
Were referred to the senate committee
of foreign relations.
Root will appear before the com
mittee tomorrow, ostensibly to dis
cuss some of the treaties negotiated
at The Hague. but II is expected that
he will take mp the Venezuelan affair
aud suggest some action.
Tentative Program.
Those members of the committee
who have already famiiarized them
selves with the situation have ar
ranged tentatively a program. which
consists of three propositions, as fol.
lows
Place the prohibitiye tariff on Ven
ezuelan coffee, the exports Of whicn
constitute 45 per cent. OF the entire
Venezuelan foreign trade, and 80 per
cent. of the coffee is taken by Uni |
ted States.
Exclude all importations of asphalt |,
from Lake Bermudez, the product of
which has been taken almost entirely !
by the United States.
Authorize the president to exercise
the general power inveted in him to
take whatever steps he may consider
necessary to treat with Venezuela in
tho future.
Root's Efforts Failed.
The most interesting features Of the I
correspondence are those in which
Root figured. Various attempts had
been made by proceeding administra-
tions to effect a settlement of Amer
lean claims, the late Secretary Hay
having gone so far is to lay down
what was regarded as almost an ulti
matum.
But all of these attempts failed of
success and after a lapse of many
Root felt bound to again
strive to reach an agreement. His eff
forts also have been in vain, and hay
ing exhausted all resources at his com
mand to bring Venezuela to a realiza-
ton of the necessity and Justice of
, proper settlement finally fet com
PEELED to submit the matter to con
gress.
Venezueia's Action.
The action Cf Tenezuela throughout
he discussion of various matters Is
.hus summarized in Roots letter of
Instructions TO Minister Rus
sell;
Notwithstanding the long and un ]
broken friendship manifested by the [
United States for Venezuela: notwith- y
standing repeated occasions upon e
which the United States had inter I
F,sa In, IN HplipVp / a
from disagreeable and g
dangerous complications with other I
,owers; notwithstanding the patience v
nd consideration which has always
the action of this gov 5
.Inment toward Venezuela. the gov. h
rnment of Venezuela has, within the ;
,ast few years. practically cOnfiscated a
II destroyed all substantial property 4
interests of Americans in that coun a
r.. 0
By Illegal Devices. e
This has been done sometimes I'm Il
ccordance with FERNS of law and con /
rary to the spirit of the law: some II
ines without even the form of law b
" one device or another. with the Fl
ction of the government apparently
lways hostile to American interests.
ntil of the many millions of dollars
lvested by American citizens in that "
cuntry practically nothing remains. - ot
Tho Asphalt Case. lin
The most noted of the many cases n
/ dispute is that of the New York
nd Bermudez Company, which has q