Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-24
AMERICANS TO
LEAVE CARACAS
ON WAR VESSEL
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS ARE
PRACTICALLY SEVERED
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE QUAR-
RELs WITH VENEZUELA
Revolution Against Administration Is
Being Organized at Colombo,
but President Castro
Remains Firm
nv Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
CARACAS, June 2s--The members Of
the American legation are awaiting the
arrival of the United States gunboat
Marietta at Port Cabello. The warship
has been ordered there for the pur-
pose Of mastering the Americans to
the United States.
Jacob Sleeper, who has been acting
as charge d'affaires since the departure
of the American minister, W. w. Rus
sell, and Lieutenant Francis A. Rug
giles, the military attache. withdrew
from the legation at Caracas on Sat
urday and proceeded to Port Cabello.
The interests of the United States
were placed in charge of the Brazilian
legation, as the representatives of the
European nations are having consid-
cradle friction with President Castro's
government. The American consular
agent, John Brewer, remains here In
charge of the archives.
President Castro returned here sud-
denly few days ago, after long alb
sence In the interior, and his arrival
attracted much attention. All kinds
of rumors are current and the with
drawal of the representatives of the
United States is not quite understood
by Venezuelans. Tt is probable, too,
there will be an early rupture with
Holland and there are reports that a
revolution against the administration
is being organized in Colombo.
AS matters now stand, the United
States, France and Colombia practical
ly have no relations with Venezuela.
Great Britain and Holland have serious
questions pending with the govern
ment. Germany alone has no dispute.
Paper Makes Comment
The Constitutional, President Cas-
tro's organ, in an editorial today says:
1.-The United States, in closing a sem
sational diplomatic process In such an
unexpected way, cannot weaken the
spirit of brotherhood and high consid-
Grafton of Venezuelan people toward
the United States. The Venezuelan
government and the president have the
satisfaction of possessing justice and
law In the attitude in which they have
maintained the indisputable adhesion
of the people"
With his withdrawal from the lega-
ton Mr.. Sleeper sent note to the
government asking for passports.
This note was answered in very con-
siderate language and the American
charge was informed that passports
were unnecessary inasmuch as he per-
sonally was persona grata, and that
diplomatic immunity would continue
until he was on board the Marietta,
there being no question of war in
volved. The communication to Mr.
Sleeper extended to him the cordial
wishes of the administration for q
happy voyage.
The recent diplomatic friction be-
tween Venezuela and Holland over the
closing of Venezuelan ports to Dutch
vessels and President Castro's decree
prohibiting the transshipment of cargo
in the island of Curacao, reached 8
crisis several days ago, when the
president vigorously answered note
sent to him by the Dutch minister, ]
II. de Reus, protesting against this de-
cree and criticising the Venezuelan
consul at Willemstadt.
President Castro refused to modify
the orders which he had issued. Min
lister de Reus Is now awaiting instruc-
tions from The Hague and the opin.
ion among the diplomats here and
others in we'll informed circles is thai
a seyering of relations between the
two countries is likely.
There has been great reduction
in Venezuelan revenues because of the
prevalence of the plague and baC
economic conditions, but the govern
ment, It is announced, is still paying
all it's obligations.