Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-27
ORDERED TO RETURN
Dutch Cruiser Proceeds Again
to Venezuela.
RIOTING IN WILLEMSTAD
Angry Demonstration Against Gas.
tro's Representative.
CONSUL FORCED TO LEAVE CITY
With His Departure the City Re-
sumes It's Normal Calm-Troops
Withdraw to Barracks.
CONSUL FORCED TO LEAVE CITY


2T.-The serious nature of the situation
that has arisen between the Netherlands
and Venezuela was emphasized today by
the issuance of orders to the Dutch
cruiser Gelderland to proceed at once to
Venezuela to protect Dutch interests
there. The Gelderland arrived here with
j. D. DeReus. the Netherlands minister
resident at Caracas. who was dismissed
from Venezuela by President Castro. 1t
was only a few hours after the cruisers
arrival that the orders for an immediate
return to Venezuela were received.
The departure Of the Venezuelan consul,
Senior Lopez, has resulted in cessation
Of riots which grew out of the anti-Vene-
zuelan sentiment here Saturday and yes
terday. The city is now calm and the
troops that were patrolling the streets
have been withdrawn to their barracks.
Rioting in Willemstad.
A demonstration before the residence Of
the Venezuelan consul, Senior Lopez. oc-
Cured late Saturday night. and although
no actual attack was made. it is stated
that two shots were fired from the con-
surs house, no one. however, being in
jured.
a mob numbering about 1000 gathered In
front Of the dwelling of a Venezuelan
resident who, it is alleged. had insulted
Curacao in the Venezuela papers, broke
down the doors with stones, and, seizing
the man, compelled him to sign a paper
which set forth an elaborate excuse for
the publication of the statements with
which he was charged.
The leaders Of the populace also forced
him to make public apology from the
balcony Of his home, while the crowd be-
low hooted and groaned in accompani-
ment. Furthermore. members of the
mans family were compelled to play the
Dutch national hymn. while the people
below shouted Down with Castro; long
may Wilhelmina live!
The police were entirely unable to cope
with the demonstrators. and their efforts
in this direction were somewhat feeble.
No bodily harm was done to any one. but
the shouting and cheering continued for
and a march made upon the consul s
house.
Troops Called Out. -
There was gathering again of the mob
yesterday morning and when its was
learned that the Venezuelan consul had
proceeded to the German consulate this
building was surrounded by an ever-in-
creasing mob. The attorney general made
determined effort to quiet the populace.
which was becoming more and more ex-
attempted to check the demonstration, but
for time that was found impossible.
1t became necessary eventually to call
out additional troops and these at once
proceeded to patrol the streets and stop
the rioting. Consul Lopez was escorted
to the Venezuelan consulate by an armed
force and he gathered up the official doc
uments of his office and was escorted
back to his home The troops that accom-
panied him were compelled to force their
way through the crowds that had gath
cred and were jeering on every hand.
An armed guard was left to protect the
Venezuelan consulate and another guard
was stationed at the consurs residence.
Other troops continued patrolling the city.
Departure Of Consul Lopez.
Great joy was manifested by the popula-
ton when 1t became known that the
Venezuelan consul had taken passage for
Porto Cabello on the steamer Maracaibo.
The steamer arrived at 6 o'clock yester
day afternoon and the consul boarded her
and proceeded for Venezuela.
AS Consul Lopez was going from his
residence to the consulate. escorted by
armed troops. to remove the official pa
pers, the mob nearly caught him, but he
was saved by the arrival of more troops.
Yesterday afternoon the consuls wife
and children were escorted to the steamer
Maracaibo by the attorney general. They
were not molested. A strong armed force
took the consul on board the steamer.
which was guarded by troops up to the
moment of her departure for Porto Ca
bello. Every possible protection was ac-
corded the consul by the Willemstad au-
thorities. and, with the exception Of
thrown at him, he was not harmed.
Cause of the Ill Feeling.
The measures taken by the Venezuelan
government against the Dutch govern
ment, and directly against the Island of
Curacao, brought about depressed busi
ness conditions in that island, whose peo-
pie asked Queen Wilhemina of Holland
to take steps to improve the relations be-
tween the two countries In a permanent
manner. Curacao complained OF the seiz-
ure by Venezuela of Dutch vessels plying
between Aruba and Curacao, both Dutch
possessions. and the imprisonment OF the
crews: the opening of Official correspond
ence by Venezuela, the decree issued by
President Castro prohibiting the trans
shipment of freight at Curacao and OF
many other antagonistic measures.
The eliminating act Of hostility to the
Dutch government was the recent dismis-
sal by President Castro of ]. II. De Reus.
the minister resident IN Caracas of the
Netherlands The minister's passports
were sent to him by Senior Paul the Vene-
zuelan minister of foreign affairs Senor
Paul sent a letter to the foreign minister
of the Netherlands in which he said:
This Indispensable measure affects
only NJ. De Reus. 1t will not alter the
existing friendly relations between Vene-
zuela and the Netherlands"
Queen Wilhelmina's government replied
to this by sending the warship Gelderland
to Puerto Cabello for the purpose OF
taking NJ De Reus away. At Amsterdam
Saturday the council of ministers took
the Venezuelan matter under discussion.
and although no measure against Vene-
zuela has vet been announced by the gov
ernment, the newspapers foresee the pos
sibility of a naval demonstration in view
of President Castro's attitude.
Diplomats Watching Developments
Because Of their bearing on the strained
relations between President Castro and
various other European and the American
the anti-Venezuelan demon
strations In Willemstad by the Dutch
have been attracting considerable atten-
tion at the State Department and among
the rather small number Of diplomats who
are still in Washington. American inter-
ests or individuals not being involved in
the disturbance. there IL nothing for this
government to do. but the developments
will be more or less aAxiously watched.