Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-10
At Santander and Laughs
at Reports of||| Health,
Proposes TO Settle All Of Ven-
ezueIa's Present Troubles.
Wants Peace With the Dutch and
Especially United States.

French steamer Guadeloupe, with Pres
ident Castro of Venezuela on board
came in here today 1t was learned
soon after her arrival that President
Castro will continue on board the
Bordeaux he will travel overland to
Berlin.
President Castro has come to Eu-
rope with the intention of settling all
Venezuela's International quarrels The
general health of the President is
good.
The Guadeloupe came into Santander
flying the flag of Venezuela. In addi-
ton to President Castro there We're on
board his wife and sister, Sonora Car
denas, two aides and three physicians,
DIR. ]. A, Baldo, DR.. Pablo Acosta Or
tiZ and Dr. Fonseca.
The mystery of the Presidents trip
to Europe was dispelled when the
Guadeloupe dropped anchor. The re-
ports that Castro is critically ill, that
he was deserting Venezuela forever
etc, were speedily pronounced absurd
and it was decided that he came tc
Europe with the double purpose of be-
ing examined by European specialists
and to settle Venezuela's outstanding
differences with foreign powers AS
President Castro is his own minister Of
foreign affairs, he is confident of being
able to conduct the negotiations to this
end to successful conclusion and he
believes that he will return to Caracas
in February with Venezuela at peace
with the world.
C2rmelo Castro, one or the Presl-
dents brothers, who recently arrived
III Europe from Caracas by way OF
New York. had come down to Santan-
der to meet the President and with the
Venezuelan consul, the port officials
and a number of journalists he board
ed the steamer as soon as she came to
anchor.
President Castro was found in his
cabin shaving. He laughed heartily al
the fantastic rumors regarding his pur-
poses that have been in circulation re-
Gently. The doctors said that the Pres
ident'S general condition was excellent
and that he had derived great benefit
rom the voyage over. He spent hours
every Gay promenading the deck and
chatting freely with his fellow passen-
gers. In fact he was the life of tn
ship.
The attending physicians eXplaine
that Castro desired to consult Euro
pean specialists regarding the advis
ability of an operation. He has been
suffering for years with a disease that
is understood to be tumor of the kid
neyS.
The President of Venezuela paid ne
heed to the warnings of the Venezuelan
consuls who told him he might not be
permitted to land in France. Castro an
nounced that he had started for Bor-
deaux and that there he was going. He
Knows that the fact that he is going tc
France with his hand stretched out il
peace has preceded him. Before he lef
Venezuela he made the first advance
by authorizing the return of several
Frenchmen who had been eXiled fol
political reasons and during the voy-
age over he had number of long talks
with NJ. Merlou, the French minister
TO Peru. who was a fellow passenger
He explained his intentions to NJ
Mdrlou and showed the minister a
number of documents which, so far as
the French government is concerned
changing the governments attitude to
ward him. He told NJ. Merfou that he
was ready to make important conces
SiCns in order to restore amicable rela-
tions with France In a dispatch from
Santander, NJ. Merlou informed the
French government fully of the situa
ton.
President Castro himself declined tt
talk for publication to the newspaper
men who came on board the steamer
In spite of the reticence OF the Presi-
dent it was possible to confirm official
ly the information relative to President
Castrc's purpose if possible to settle
the disputes of his government with
Holland and France. including the mat
ter of French Gable Co.
Castro said also that he expected to
arrange the difficulties of his govern
nent with the United States, including
the asphalt affair