The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-10
Uncle Sans Side Of 1t.

Uncle Sans Side OF 1t.
Mr.. Veloz's withdrawal follows that
of Minister Russell as diplomatic rep
resentative of the United States to
Venezuela about two months ago. and
that of Mr.. Sleeper. the secretary of
the legation. and Lieutenant Ruggles,
the military attache. about two weeks
ago. The reason for the withdrawal
of the American legation from Caracas
arose from the persistent refusal OF
Venezuela to give redress for the gov
ernmental action by which all Ameri-
can interests in Venezuela we're either
destroyed or confiscated or to submit
the claims of American citizens 10 ar
bitration. There were five of these
claims in all, those of a. j. Jaurett. the
Orinoco corporation, the Orinoco
Steamship company, the New York &
Bermudez Asphalt company and the
Critchfield concession.
For a long time past the American
government has been making efforts to
secure a settlement of these claims.
various attempts having been made by
preceding administrations. Secretary
Hay having gone so far at one time as
TO lay down what was regarded almost
as an ultimatum.
Secretary Root, in 1907. in a letter TO
Minister. Russell. instructed him 10 de-
mand remedy or redress. Mr.. Rus
sell however. was unable 10 obtain any
satisfaction from the Castro govern
ment. which adhered TO It's position that
there was no reason why Venezuela
should arbitrate the claims
Then President Roosevelt determined
to send the whole correspondence bear
ing upon the claims and showing the
efforts made bv the United States TO
have them arbiIrated. to congress. the
president and Secretary Root deemlng
il best TO leave TO that BODY the deter
minstion of the question of what. if
anything. should be done by this gov
eminent TO bring Castro TO terms
Senate Was Afraid.
Long before the recent session closed.
however, il was evident that the SEN
ate would not initiate any action. al
though Mr. Root appeared before the
committee on foreign relations repeat
eddy TO discuss the situation. Public
opinion. IL was declared. had not crys-
talized sufficiently TO warrant the SEN
ate in taking action. while persons hav-
ing commercial interests in Venezuela
which might be effected were urging
that action be delayed
T, Practically the next step was the de-
parture late in April of American Min
lister Russell from Caracas on sixty
day leave of absence. Mr. Sleeper was
left in charge of the American legation
An incident which caused considerable
comment, because of the strained reia-
lions existing between the United
States and Venezuela. was the opening
of the mail of the men on the cruiser
Tacoma by the officials OF the La
, guaira postoffice- Castro's reply was
that IL had been done inadvertently
and this reply appeared 70 be salts
factory 10 the American government,
although some feeling was evidenced
over the manner in which President
Castro had stated the case.
Following next. the turn of events
was the final break in diplomatic reia-
tons between the United States and
Venezuela. caused by Mr.. Sieepers de-
parture from Venezuela in obedience
TO orders from the department and the
turning over OF the business of the iega-
! ton TO the Brazilian minister.