The Washington herald., 1908-08-19

Technically at war with four nations,
the republic OF the United States Of
Venezuela IS actually more tranquil and
peaceful than ever before IN its history
In the eyes OF the world a freebooter
ard a ty-rant. Cipriano Castro al home is
the one great man who has given Ven
ezuela a semblance Of internal peace and
order. Under Castro's leadership Ven
ezuela has violated every ordinance and
convention Of international propriety. Yet
Castro's diplomacy has been uniformly
successful, from the Venezuelan point Of
view
Just now there are no diplomatic rela-
tons between Venezuela and the United
States. France. the Netherlands. or Co
lombia- The Dutch quarrel assumed the
proportions Of a war cloud, and the Dutch
navy has been making demonstrations in
West Indian waters. The French quarrel
is but one Of q long succession Of rup-
lures. This one being precipitated by The
personality Of the French representative
in Caracas The Dutch quarrel had many
causes. the gravest being the Dutch min
ister's publication Of an article rejecting
upon Venezuela and Castro's Indifference
20 the spread Of bubonic plague. which
seriously threatened the neighbo-ing
Dutch island OF Curacao. The quarrel
with Colombia IS an ancient feud Of
characteristic Latin-American origin and
history
So IA as Venezuela is concerned. It's
most serious quarrel is with the United
States OF America Every Latin-Aueri-
can country leans TO some extent upon
the arm Of the powerful republic Of the
North" as our country is known south
OF Mexico The Monroe doctrine. which
declared The purpose Of this Earion 10
protect the weaker republics Of the West
ern world, was promulgated at a time
when the United States itself was q
weakling- II was vitalized and empha-
sized many years later. when this coun-
try risked a third war With England n
defending the interests Of Venezuela The
Fenezuelans remember these things. even
II they have no gratitude. and they de-
pend much upon the Monroe doctrine.
The State Department softly declares
that the cessation Of diplomatic relations
between this country and Venezuela was
not a hostile rupture. but rather a with
drawai OF representation signifying dis
pleasure To those who have no mind for
splitting hairs betwlxt nor and nor'east
the diplomatic situation is just this vene-
zUela refused 20 accede 20 the demands
Of the United States for arbitration OF
some claims and for the rearbitration Of
another After more than two years Of
fruiJless endeayor. the American govern
menL showed its indignation by with
drawing its legation from Caracas and
ending diplomatic relations Two weeks
later Castro. replying in kind. said.
You're another" and withdrew his rep
resenrative from Washington And there
you are
When this quarrel nrst started. M
John Hay. Secreta-- Of state. thought TO
bring things to p head. He said. in sub
stanue. = President Castro '-Arbitrate
or fight castro replied. II substance
tn do neither And he hasn't As a
matter OF fact. the most beIIic0se feature
Of the American-Venezuelsn quarrel mas
been The somewhat inbitt=red contro-
versy in the United States between former
Assistant Secretary Of State Francis 3.
Loomis and former Minister Herbert ".
Bowen between rival asphalt concerns.
and between press agents inspired by
rival interests
One faction declares that Castro Is the
w.ckedest man on earth, an Andean cat
tie thief, who has made himself a dc
1aIor in opposition 10 the viii Of his
people and in defiance OF every law OF
decency- another line OF press agents
sends out literature which declares that
the asphalt trust is Eeeping up an IN
ending stream CT lies about the noble
Castro. who. from sheer force Of char
acter and patriotic impulse, rose from
the huublest beginnings 70 his present
exalted station
The United states sent a special COM
missioner. Judge William = CoIhoun. Of
Chicago. 10 Venezuela 70 investigate the
status Of the claims Of Americans against
that country. His report 10 the State
Department, although not public. caused
Mr. Root 70 say in a letter that there
were Questions app-opriate TOr
judicial decision. and upon the raising OF
which q situation was presented calling
for an equitable adjustment Of differences
and which cannot properly be disposed
OF BY a simple demand based upon the
idea that al the right is on one side
Undoubtedly. there are two sides to the
question Perhaps neither side IS wholly
right in its contentious Certainly there
is no means by which an ordinary Amerl-
can citizen can to-day decide which side
has the prepouGera1ce Of right A Judi
clsI ascertainmenJ may be had some
Gay. and the whole subject may be b2re6
70 the critical inspection Of the impair
tiaL Until then there is always an IN
settled question
To summarize briefly. the United States
has five claims which i has been urging
upon the government OF Venezusla- The
Washington government asked for a re-
opening and resubmissiOn 10 arbitration
Of the claim Of the Orinoco Steamship
Company; for an international ar5itra,
ton 10 investigate the rights Of the New
York and BermudeZ Asphalt Company
and tc establish its losses occasioned By
injustice done 70 that company. for ar
arbitration by The Hague or other inter
national tribunal Of the contentious aris-
ing out Of the contracts and concession:
Of the O-nocO Corporation and other con-
Germs enjoying rights under the Fitzger-
aid concession for a Withdrawal OF oppo-
sition 10 the Critchheld concession. OF
arbitration OF the case; and for indem-
nifty for the expulsion Of a F Jau-ett ar
American citizen. from Venezuela Be
hind each one Of these five claims is q
history which fills volumes with contra
dictory. confusing, and controversial dis
putatiol-
The most interesting and important
cases are those OF the New York and
Bermudez Asphalt Company. whose prop.
erty was seized by Venezuela after the
company had spent S145.Oo0 10 aid a revo.
lu6on against Castro. led by Gen Afatos
and the Orinoco Steamship COMPANY
claim. which has been once passed .upor
by a court Of arbitration TIE fact that