The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-08-29
THE Dutch AND venezuela
Dutch Government Putting on
War Paint
Cabinet Meeting At THE HAGUE.

Cabinet Meeting At THE HAGUl
Inc Dispute With the Venezuelan
Government Thoroughly Cam
| vassed. Arbitration Will be
Impossible.
New Orleans.-Respecting thu
seemingly unavoidable War. between
Venezuela and Holland, the Picayuns
has the following to say:
There is now very good pros.
pect that President Castro, of Vens-
zuela, will shortly receive much
deserved castigation. The Dutch Gov
ernment has carefully sounded Wash
ington as to just how far it may go
in chastising Venezuela without In
fringing upon the provisions of the
Monroe Doctrine, and it is under
stood that our Government has prae-
tically given Holland a free hand,
provided only that no attempt il
made to acquire territory as re-
suit of any punitory step that may
be taken against the South Ameri-
can Republic.
There was prolonged cabinet
decision was given out as to what
is admitted that the Venezuela situa-
tion was under discussion. No in
formation was given out as to what
decision wa sarrived at, but it was
admitted that the quarrel with Ven
ezuela had gone too far to permit
of arbitration. President Castro has
not only sent the Dutch Minister
about his business in a most uncer-
emonious and unusual way, but has
broken off all relations with Holland
by withdrawing the .exequaturss of
Dutch Counsuls and refusing to per-
NIT the German Minister, to whose
care Dutch interests have been con-
fided. to hold any communications
with the Dutch Government.
The act which has probably in
creased Holland the most, however,
and has babe arbitation impossible
is the curt demand made by Presi-
dent Castro for an apology for the
action Of the mob in ,Curacoa in
defacing the escutcheon of the Ven
ezuelan consulate .and for the fail
ure of the cruiser Gelderland to
salute the Venezuelan flag, although
by Castro's own action all relations
between the countries had been brok-
en- OF.
While it is somewhat humiliat-.
ing to witness the castfgation Of an
American Republic by European
monarchy everybody will admit that
Holland has received sufficient pro-
vocation and President Castro has
made himself SO generally obnox-
ious to all foreigners that both the
United States and Europe will well
come his castigation, and the world
at large will be disappointed if the
Dutch are anyway lenient with him.
Although Holland can only be rat
ed as a second-class power, she is
very formidable by comparison with
The Dutch are a richer
nation, have an enviable fighting
and possess fairly for
navy, considering the needs
of the country. 1t will not involve
Holland in any financial straits to
send feet to Venezuela, and al
though it may not be deemed advisa-
BILE to invade the country and at
tack the Capital, the ports will be
to certainty, and all
coast fortifcations are pretty apt
to be bombarded. President Castro
will in all probability resist, as he
has resisted before under similar
but as soon as the
blockade commences to materially
cut into his revenue he is pretty
certain to experience a change of
heart if the revolutionists of Venez-
uela do not make away with him
before the Dutch have had proper
to settle scores.
Practically every one of the lead
Ing Powers, including the United
States, Is on bad terms with the
Castro government and most of them
are no longer represented at Caracas.
The Brazilian Minister at the Ven
ezuelan Capital has been refused per-
mission to look after the interests
If France. This is most unusual
as even in time of war
he Minister of neutral power Is
always permitted to look after the
interests of subjects of bellfgerents
md to preserve the archives, which.
to international usage, en-
10y diplomatic immunity from seiz-
ire. Castro seemingly cares as little
or international customs and obser-
rances as he does for the rights and
privileges of foreigners residing in |
lis country"