Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-08
'CASTRO STILL MACS NEW YORK HANDICAP
Ilnso|ence Over Opening of Last Lap Reached on the
American Naval Mail. Albany Track.
IFOREIGN OFFICE REPLIES BETTING ON THE BILLS
Uses the Most Offensive Diplomatic Agnew Measure Carrying Weight
Language. for Age
PRESIDENTS PAPER IS UGLY ODDS FAVOR THE TURFMEN
Edaly Whether Roosevelt Hart Fily
Be Considered Friend Place-Grattan May Pull
the Leader
FOREIGN OFFICE REPLIES |
Uses the Most Offensive Diplomatic
Language.
PRESIDENTS PAPER IS UGLY
Asks Editorially Whether Roosevelt
Is to Be Considered Friend
or a Dictator.

CARACAS. Saturday. March 2s.-The
arrival in La Guaira, March II, of the
United States cruiser Tacoma and the en-
suing notes exchanged between the Amer
ican minister and the Venezuelan minis
ter for foreign affairs over the incident of
the opening of the Tacoma's man pouches
in the La Guaira post office have greatly
Increased the Iong-existing strain in the
diplomatic relations between the two
countries. These relations recently have
been aggravated by diplomatic corre-
spondence regarding the American claims
against Venezuela and by the resolution
of the American Congress calling for the
ventilation of the Venezuelan question
before that body.
Minister Russell. March 81. in a note to
Dr. Paul, minister for foreign affairs.
made the following statement. which was
qualified by the latter In his answer as
"emanating from a prejudiced mind and
as showing ''suspiciousness or levity:'
"Inasmuch as having broken the seal of
the United States which had been placed
on these mail pouches addressed to
United States warship. visiting IN Nene-
zuean port. and having touched wrong
fully the correspondence Of said ship. is a
very serious matter. 1 respectfully ask
your excellency to make a prompt and
complete investigation of this act on the
part of the functionaries Of the Venezue-
Ian post office in La Guaira."
Insolent Reply.
The foreign office ordered an investiga-
ion to be made by the postmaster gen.
eral This showed that the pouches had
been opened by mistake and that the
contents had been disturbed. DR.. Paul
then answered Mr.. Russell under date OF
March "a as follows, both notes being
published the following day In FL Con-
stitucional:
ITO the suspiciousness or levity shown
by the observations contained in your
excellency's note the Venezuelan govern
ment even more interested in clearing uD
the matter replied by Immediately ad-
dressing the minister of Fo.nen,o, In
conformity with your desire. to the END
of opening a rapid investigation Of the
facts From the report your excellency
will see that the facts are completely
cleared up, and in a way which attaches
no responsibility which could anect the
good name of the adm inistration and the
credit of government such as Venezuela
has today.
"In fact. one sees at first sight that
the Cove rnment Of Venezuela could have
no interest in interfering with corre-
spondence Of no importance to 1t, and
only prejudiced mind could have called
il a very serious matter from the nrSt
moment.
1T is perfectly we'll explained that the
seals of the two bags received by the post
office in La Guaira. and not three, as
stated in your eXcellency's note. and
which it afterward became known were
for the cruiser Tacoma. were exactly
similar to the ordinary seals used by the
New York post office, and it is also ex-
planned that the correspondence was de-
livered as soon as its destination became
known, integral and intact. as was shown
by the secretary Of the American consul
receiving it without question. This is also
shown by the contents of your excel
.ency's note. to which l refer
Semi-Oficial Comment
On the day following the publication Of
me diplomatic correspondence regarding
the violation of the mail pouches Of the
Us s. Tacoma. President Castro's official
organ. FL Constitutional. published an edi-
tcrial accusing President Roosevelt of
which to create a conflict with Vene-'
zuela" and Of having a 'premeditated
plan" 1t says:
could have written his note to our for
eign office without having a preconceived
and premeditated intention? To attribute
to a simple act, without responsibility to
the post office in La Guaira, intentions
which do not exist. and to PREJUDICE the
act as serious for the government of the
United States is to have a premeditated
plan which ought not TO originate. because
it cannot. from the actual American min
lister in Caracas, w. w. Russell.
Friend or Dictator
From where. then, can originate the
Idea of searching for slight incidents to
create a conflict with Venezuela? From
the chief of this legation. who is called
the Secretary of State in Washington.
and who In turn cannot but be under
the direct influence OF President Roose-
velt."
Saying that 1t is high time for the
American nations to know President
Roosevelt's real ambitions whether that
of a friend or dictator, the editorial con-
tinues:
IF the aspiration of Roosevelt. Presi-
dent of the United States, against the
traditions which impose the union of the
American people among themselves, has
as a basis the abdica ton of the terri
torial sovereignty Of these people or the
nullity of their codes just because Of the
pretensions of few citizens who do not
and cannot represent the will of the
American people. 1t is then high time that
this horrible truth be known, and that
the people Of the new world know
whether in the government of the United
States they have a friend or a capricious
dictator"