Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-26
ANXIOUS TO talk TO SLEEPER
STATE DEPARTMENT WANTS
HIS VIEWS ON CASTRO.
venezuela Expected to Show Desire
to Resume Relations at an
Early Moment.

| The State Department 10 awaiting with
interest the arrival at Washington Of
| Jacob Sleeper, secretary of the American
| legation at Caracas. who was summoned
home from his post because of the dis
satisfaction of the administration with
the manner in which the Castro govern
ment has been dealing with interests of
citizens Of this country.
The offlcials feel that from personal in
terviews with Mr.. Sleeper they will be
| better informed as to the present atti-
tude Of President Castro.
| 1t is believed here that Castro will not
be willing to permit the present anoma-
| lous situation to continue indefinitely
without taking action of some kind.
The cordial relations that exist between
the State Department and Senior Veloz-
Goiticoa. Venezuelan charge in this city.
is looked upon as an easy channel for
any resumption of friendly discussion
of the situation. With Consular Agent
ment could communicate easily with thu
Venezuelan capital at any time.
Much interest was attached here to the
statement of Mr.. Sleeper and Lieut.. Rug
view given the press at willemstad. In
this the two members OF the legation re-
iterated that they were courteously
treated by Venezuela UP to the time OF
awaiting instructions from Washington.
Sleeper Cables to Washington.
The only development in the venezue-
Ian situation at this end of the line to-
day was the receipt by the acting Sec
| rotary Of state of q brief cable message
from Mr. Sleeper. announcing his arrival
at Willemstad yesterday on the gunboat
Marietta direct from Puerto Cabello. and
hat ir nh To IN CT iNtS
Re will continue his trip to the United
| States on the Marietta as far as Guam
tanamo. Cuba
At the latter port he will take passage
on the first merchant steamer for New
| York. going by way Of Cienfuegos and
| Havana.
Lieut.. Francis A. Ruxgles. United
States military attache at Caracas. and
Sleeper to Willemstad. will also make the
trip from that port to Guantanamo on the
Marietta.
While the United States government has
withdrawn all its diplomatic representa-
tives from Venezuela, Senior Veloz-Goiti-
Goa. secretary and charge Of the Venezue-
Ian legation in this city, remains COM
placently on duty at his posi- apparent
| ~ with no idea Of being recalled. The
State Department has no intention OF
asking him to leave. and if he does so 1t
will be because of a change in the plans
of his own government.
The State Department does not admit
that there Is any crisis in Venezuelan re-
lations with the United States. not being
willing to define what those relations are.
except to admit that the members of the
United States legation have been called
to this country for reasons not stated.
Venezuelan Legation Open.
Senior Veloz-Goiticoa, Venezuelan charge
affaires called at the State Department
Wednesday afternoon and was received
| by Acting Secretary Adee with his usual
cordiality. He stated that he had not
| been recalled home and had no idea that
he would be.
1t is his purpose to keep the legation
open for any business that may arise with
the United States unless he receives or
ders to the contrary from the home gov
eminent or unless the Washington gov
ern indicates that he is persona non
grata and sends him his passports.
So long as this condition continues II
Is not strictly accurate to say that diplo-
matte relations between the governments
of Venezuela and the United States have
been severed or even suspended. for the
reason that diplomatic communication be-
tween the two governments can be held
between the representatives OF each at
Washington just as easily as they could
were each represented at the Venezuelan
capital.
The United States government alone has
taken steps in this matter. for as yet Ven
cZucld ldS ldhcu no dClI0u Wn2tcSST anu
there has been no interruption at all in
the commercial relations Of the two coun.
tries
Consuls in Venezuela.
Almost a dozen consular officers and
agents Of the United States government
are stationed in several Venezuelan cities
and there is at present no inception on
the part of the administration to with
draw them.
These persons have no diplomatic func-
tons. but their duties pertain to COM
mercial and other matters outside the
scope of diplomacy. 1t is desirable that
they be continued In their present posi-
tons. as, in addition to their regular
duties. there are matters affecting the
rights Of American citizens that require
attention.
Still. IL a crisis should arise. the De-
partment Of State would not hesitate to
direct them to surrender their exequaturs
and request an officer Of some other gov
eminent to look after the interests of the
United States.