The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-03
WAR CLOUDS DISAPPEARING Differences Are Not So
 Serious. ARMED CONFLICT TALE ABSURD
 - Uncle Sam's Action in Recalling Ministers is Cited.
 - The venesueIan Government Believes
ARMED CONFLICT TALE ABSURI
The venesueIan Government Believes It Has the Fullest Justification Fer Its Dismissal of the
 Dutch Consul.

GaTacaSs rTlddy, July Sl.-tN1d ToFt of Spain. August 2.)-7The differences between President Castro and the gov ernment of The Netherlands will prob ably turn out to be less serious than they seemed at first.
 All talk of an armed conflict Is re- garded as absurd in this country. The government believes that 1t had the fullest Justification for its dismissal of Mir. Dereus. the Dutch minister, and points to the action of the gov ernment of the United States in ask ing the recall of the English minister, Lord Sackville- West. at President Cleveland's request, in October. 1888. as we'll as a like demand upon Spain for the recall of Minister Dupuy de Lome. by President Mckinley in February. 1898. Indeed, the case of Minister De- reus Is said to be much more fragrant than either of the others referred to. In the caSe of Sackvilie and Dupuy de Lome, the letters written denuncia- tory of the American Presidents were confidential and not intended for pub licatien. Dereus, on the other hand. wrote his letter with the deliberate purpose that 1t should be published
 There is a society in Amsterdam called the "Hou'en Tronw" (Loyal and Trnel. It's membership consists of prominent Holland merchants and It's object Is to secure employment for young Hollanders in foreign countries. This society publishes a monthly jour nal for circulation among its members. It notes existing conditions in foreign countries and indicates where there are vacancies which might be profita- bly filled by young men from The Netherlands.
 In order to secure information re- &ra nrf4 for QrnpIMNf- ment, the society makes a practice of sending out letters aslxing for infer nation to Dutch merchants as well as to the ministers and consuls of The Netherlands government throughout the world. It was in response to one of these letters of inquiry that Min ister Dereus sent the following let- ter which was published in tine May, 1908. Bulletin" of the '.Hou'en Trouw Society of Amsterdam:
 BEInister Dereus'n Letter. Caracas, 9th April. 1908.
 "Referring to your letter of the 24th of February. I am sorry to inform you that the present time is anything but favorable for business. The sys-l tenn of government (sinoe 1s99l, of the present almost dictatoriaI ruling pres ident, which is economically for the creation and afterwards. always for the annulment of monopoiies, through all kinds of subtleties, has very near ly ruined the country. The only ray of light on these dark days through which Venezuela struggles, Is the high price of cocoa, but this. of course, Is not sufficient to make the future of the republic hopeful.
 "A good part of the import and ex- port trade in Venezuela Is in the hands of Germans, who engage their employees in Europe, chiefly at Ham burg. These young men come out gen. erally on a contract for three years, after the expiration of which they return, or according to their fitness, gain advancement where they arc. Firms also sometimes engage young men from this country who are nearly all born here or come from Curacao. but they very seldom reach high places as 1t is of great importance to the German firms to have new and strong European employees in their oficess that their energy may never be dor- mant-
 'I know personally. nearly all the chiefs of the various large firms here and I often speak with them concern ing business. do not believe, how ever, that you should entertain the Idea, especially in the present circuna- stances, of placing young men from The Netherlands here. The firms are doing all they can to diminish the expenses and even the less prominent houses. which formerly employed Eu- ropean or American help. now seek na- tiYes or young men from Curacao. who are satisfied with smaller salaries, al- though of the two. the Curocoan is much the better.
 There is besides. desperate com petition in imports, especially in the importation of textile and fancy goods by the so-called Turks and Moroccans, who carry them into the most remote regions of the republic, and they take such small gains on account of the modest conditions in which they live, that the wholesale dealers must reduce their profits to preserve their own existence.
 Moreover. there is such an uncer- tain domestic and foreign political sit uation. to say nothing of the meagre