Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-25
JUST COLD TO CASTRO
Displeasure to Be Shown by
Leaving Him Alone.
MAY COME 'ROUND IN time
Expected Venezuela's President Will
Need Aid Against Europe.

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao. June 25.-The
American gunboat Marietta came into
port early this morning from Porto Ca
bello. She has on board Jacob Sleeper.
secretary of the American legation in
Venezuela, and Lieut.. Francis A. Rug
giles, the military attache, and Mrs Rug
giles.
Mr.. Sleeper has been acting as charge
d'affaires at Caracas since the departure
of Minister Russell early in May. He and
Lieut. Ruggles withdrew from the legation
at Caracas. placing the interests of the
United States in charge of the Brazilian
legation at Caracas.
Coming North by Steamer.
Jacob Sleeper. secretary and charge of
the American legation at Caracas, who
left that post at the direction Of the State
gunboat Marietta at Willemstad today.
a regular steamer.
Should the State Department desire it,
Mr.. Sleeper could be taken north on the
gunboat. This is regarded as entirely un-
necessary. for the reason that he can
take advantage of regular steamer, and
because the administration wants the
naval vessel to remain at Willemstad for
use as a dispatch boat between there and
Porto Cabello.
The orders to the captain of the Mari
eta were to place his vessel at the orders
of the American charge.
The navy has two or three little gun
boats In West Indian waters within two
or three days sail of the Venezuelan
coast that might be employed for emer-
gency service there in the event that there
should be an outbreak in Venezuela jeopr
ardizing foreign interests.
Revolutionists Are Active.
While there are no indications as yet
| that the revolutionary party in Venezuela
has SO far recovered from the terrific
blow dealt by President Castro In crush
ing the Matos rebellion several years ago,
there are hints that "emigres" from
Venezuela who located in Colombia after
the suppression of the MatoS movement
| are becoming active and are fomenting a
hlibustering expedition on a large scale
that would enter Venezuela from Colon
bia somewhere in the neighborhood of the
| Gulf of Maracaibo.
OF course this would be violation of
International law on the part of Colombia
to permit the organization of any such
expedition. But the fact that diplomatic
relations between Venezuela and Colon
| bia have been interrupted for nearly a
year past will probably make interna-
tional obliga tions toward her neighbor sit
| lightly upon Colombia.
| The Venezulan charge here. Senor We
! loz-Gioticoa. remains serenely confident
that he is not to leave here. If he does
it must be by the act of his own govern
| ment. The State Department does not
intend to disturb him. In fact, he is d
welcome visitor here.
Just to Be Let Alone.
In the view of the department there
is no crisis in Venzulan relations with
the United States. The United States
has become dissatisfied with the attitude
of the Venezulan administration, but had
chosen to express that dissatisfaction by
the peaceful method Of closing up its le-
CATION at Caracas
1t does not intend to make any further
move, for the time being anyway. AT
bottom there is confident expectation
that President Castro will soon come to
feel uncomfortable in his estrangement
from his great neighbor of the north.
probably the only one able and willing to
protect him in his proper needs, and will
again turn to America as his best friend
when the ugly complications between
Venezuela and the great European powers
! threaten the existence Of his government.