Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-08-17
venexuela,s Side.


this country that our government
must be right In the dispute with
Venezuela, therefore Castro's govern
nent is In the wrong. Both cannot be
right or there would be no dispute.
Venezuela claims that her attitude is
right and legal and 1t Is conceded by
those who are familiar with Castro's
argument that there Is room for hen
orable difference of opinion at least.
For instance, in the case of the Ber-
mudez Asphalt company, which has
been heavily fined by the Venezuelan
courts and its concession by the gov
eminent Cancelled, 1t is Castro's con-
tentlon that the company originally
agreed to abide by the decisions Of his
courts in all disputes with the govern
ment arising under the contract and,
Furthermore, that the company sup
piled money to finance a revolution
against the established government Of
Venezuela.
II Venezuela's claim is supported on
every point by evidence as strong as
that presented showing completely
with conspiracy, It is not strange that
Castro's government betrays exas-
peratlon over repeated efforts to re-
open cases that have been passed
upon by the courts and by arbitration
f'boards. The revolution in question
began in January, 1902. In Novem-
her 1901, the Bermudez Asphalt com
pany. which il known as "the as
phalt trust" paid the leader Of the
uprising, General Matos, 100000. In
July. 1901. four months before the
money was paid, Matos visited the
officers Of the trust in New York. The
deal OF the trust with Matos was de-
scribed by the president of the com
pany, General r. W. Greene, In testi-
mony before special commission
three years ago. Said General Greene:
When returned from Europe in octo.
Der, 1901. | was surprised TO learn from
| the trusts executive officers that during
| my absence they had decided to support
them that / thought they had made Il
great mistake. because what they had
done was not acting in good faith with
the state department at Washington,
which up to that time and largely on rep
reservations made by me to Secretary
Hay had supported the Bermudez com
pany TO such an extent as to enable It to
continue In possession OF its property.
| told them that my own judgment was
that the proper policy for the company
to pursue was TO rely upon the support
OF the state department at Washington,
| This, however. they said was impossible,
for they had already made arrangements
to support Matos, and II he should sue
| coed, as they thought he would. the COM
pRny would then be able TO protect It's
interests In Venezuela.
The money was paid over to Matos
In spite Of the warning. and Matos
failed in his attempt to overthrow the
government. as General Greene pre-
dlcted.
Some Of the claims which the Unit.
ed States has recently asked to have
submitted to arbitration have already
been arbitrated adversely to the claim,
ant, and others. Venezuela declares,
are not proper for reference to an ar-
bltration tribunal. One of the last -
claim of the same nature as one al.
ready arbitrated adversely to the
claimant. and 1t Is preferred by the
company which made the previous
claim. Castro cites as precedent
for his refusal to rearbitrate the poll
Cy Of this government when request
ed to reopen case that had been de-
cided by arbitration, To appeal for
reopening Secretary Hay replied rs
follows:
failure to comply with the award
would involve q grave dscourtesy To the
eminent arbitrators who sat In this case
and serious injury to the cause OF arbi
| tratlon.
Venezuela applied the above words
of Secretary Hay to the reopening of
the cases already decided by the ar
bltration commission of 1903 This
arbitration tribunal passed upon fifty,
tve American claims against the Ven.
Szaelan government for damages ag-
gregltlng over $l600n000. of which
$3.50, 400. or less than per cent Of the
sum claimed. was awarded to the
American claimants.