Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-29
CASTRO STANDS FIRM
From Sick Bed He DefieS HOI-
lands UItimatum.
TIME is UP NEXT SUNDAY
Dutch Warships at Curacao May
Use Force on Venezuela.
BIG GUNS READY TO REPLY
Coast Batteries at La Guaira Pre-
pared for Defense if Neither
lands Government Begins
Hostilities.
TIME is UP NEXT SUNDAY
BIG GUNS READY TO REPLY
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
| CARACAS. Sunday, October Is, 1908.
| October IL. the day of his patron saint,
Cipriano, and while lying on a sick bed.
| President Castro answered the second
| note from the Netherlands government,
| which fixes the date of November 1 for
| the revocation of the transshipment de-
cree of May IA. 1t was not until the fol-
| lowing day. October Is. that Venezuela s
| anxiously awaited reply was delivered
| into the hands of Baron Won Seckendorn,
| the German minister. who is in charge OF
| Dutch interests. Because of the lack Of
| steamer facilities this important commu-
nication will not start on its way to Hol-
land until tomorrow, October 10.
DR.. Paul, minister for foreign affairs,
closes his answer to Holland by saying
that as an interruption of diplomatic re-
lations exists today between the Neither
| lands government and Venezuela, and as
| the Venezuelan government desires to ar
rive at an amicable arrangement, he asks
| the government of Holland to send to
Caracas a confidential agent, with powers
and instructions to settle all the differ
ences now existing.
The point of view of Venezuela as ex-
pressed in this answer is that, notwith-
standing that the government OF the
| Netherlands, in its last note, admits the
good grounds for the grievances presented
| by the Venezuelan government, 1t has
not given the requested satisfaction which
| is necessary for the forgiveness of the
| offense. The Dutch government in Its
| note limited itself merely to an Offer to
| pay the material value of the consular
| shield destroyed by the Curacao mob.
Surprised at Hollands Note.
Venezuela's answer expresses surprise
| at, and calls inexplicable, the fact that
| the government of Holland, after having
admitted In its note the perfect right of
Venezuela to issue the transshipment de-
cree. at the same time asks for it's revo-
cation and simultaneously makes the
threat that it will no longer consider to
be in force the protocol of 1894 unless
said decree is revoked by November /.
The protocol signed at The Hague on
August 20, 1894, by the special commits
sioner of Venezuela, Gen. Garcia, and the
Dutch government, was for the purpose
of re-establishiag the relations of friend
ship between the two nations, which had
been severed for nineteen years. By 1t
Venezuela agreed to drop all claims
against Holland. and Holland agreed to
petitions. These are the essential para
graphs
THE government Of Venezuela. without
in any way admitting that its claims were
ing a precedent which might be invoked
In the future, agrees not to insist any
longer on the aforesaid claims.
''On the other hand, the government of
the Netherlands. being anxious to give to
the Venezuelan government proof of the
real satisfaction which the elevated mis-
sion of Gen. Garcia has caused It, again
manifests its intention to impede, by all
the means within it's power. all conspir-
acy, attack, or other act contrary to the
public order in Venezuela and derogatory
to the principles of the most strict neu-
trality toward the constituted government
in that country. in conformity with the
rules established by the right of man:
and to this end it will renew to the au-
thorities of Curacao. Bonaire, Aruba, San
Martin. San Eustacio and Saba the for
NAL instructions which exist to that eff
feet
Regarded as Silent Threat.
Holland makes no further threat in her
note, but the fact that two Dutch war
ships left Holland at the same time as
the note. and are now laying in the har-
Dor of Curacao, has been interpreted here
by the government and by the people to
be direct though mute threat that force
will be used on November l to compel the
revocation of the decree of May IA.
President Castro has answered this
threat by making all necessary naval and
military preparations to meet any reason
able contingency, and shells for the large
coast defense guns on the La Guaira
mountains were carried up to the guns
last week. Now everything is in readi-
ness in case Holland prefers to send the
warships instead of the confidential agent
asked for by Venezuela.
The president, although a very sick
man. and confined much of the time to
his bed. Is apparently as decided as ever
to resist any use of force against Vene-
zuela. He believes that his request for a
confidential agent Is fair and one which.
consequently. cannot possibly be refused
Nv Holland