The sun., 1908-07-28
HOLLAND TALKING or WAR,
PRESS EXCITED OVER TROUBLE
WITH VENEZUELA.

WIZ NES.NDSt DsSE'
German Minister.Takes Charge Of Dutch
Interests at Caracas-Cruiser Gel.
deriand Going Back to watch Castro
Consukshlpped Home From Curacao.
spse,ai Cpbf Dsspatehes 10 TIE SUN.
The HAGUE July H.-some excitement
has been caus I'd here and in other cities
Of the Netherl inds by the news OF the
trouble between Holland and Venezuela.
The newspapers are bellicose. They cal
eu!ate that six D,noh battleships and oruis-
era are ready for immediate service while
eve others arc In the East Indies or In dock.
The version current here OF the demon
,tration at Willens nstad, is that the Venezue-
an Consul there Was forced to apologize
ind salute when theDutch national anthem
was played.
CARACAS. July 27-The German Minister
Lere has taken over the care Of Dutch
interests in Venezuela. following the ex-
ulsion, by order Of President Castro. Of
JonkheeY de Reus. the Minister OF the
Netherlands.
LONDON. July ,2s.-There is no confirma-
tiou Of q rumor from Amsterdam that the
Government Of Holland has decided TO
make a naval demonstration against Ven
ezuela at Puerto Csbello and La Guayra.
wnLEMs1AD, Curacao, July T.-The
Dutch cruiser Gelderland arrived here
from Puerto Cabello. Venezuela, this morn
ing, having on board j. ID. de Reus, the
Dutch Minister, who was expelled from
Venezuela by President Castro. The war
ehip was ordered to return Immediately
10 Venezuela TO protect Dutch interests.
Sefor Lopez, the Venezuelan Consul +,
eRainst whom an angry demonstration was
made by q mob yesterday, compelling him
TO take refuge In the German consulate,
was escorted back to his own consulate by
Dutch troops. Hs,and his family remained
there under the protection Of the troops
until this evening, when they sailed for
Venezuela, the Consolidating with him all
his official documents.
The city has since been quiet.
WASHINGTON, July 2Z-Relations be-
tween Holland and venez,aela have reached
such an acute stage that 1t would cause no
surprise to officials Of the State Depart
naent II Holland should demand that Presi-
dent Castro apologize for his summary
expulsion Of the Dutch Minister. NJ de
Reus. from Caracas following a dispute
regarding decrees issued by President
Castro designed TO injure the trade OF the
Island of Curacao. which 10 Dutch pos
n Nesion.
The dispute began several months ago
when bubonio plague appeared In La GuAyra
end the authorities Of the island OF Curacao
.ss ned quarantine regulations against Vene-
,uelan ports President Castro retaliated
Ly prohibiting the transhipment in Curacao
II goods consigned to Venezuelan ports
rnd also prohibited Dutch vessels from en-
raging In the ooastwise trade OF Venezuela.
These two DEGREES ruined tho commerce
CT Curacao. Holland made an emphatic
rrotest but Castro refused to revoke the
deorses and the dispute between Castro
ind the Dutch Minister became bitter.
Press dispatches from Amsterdam said
to-day that the Dutch Government would
i.emand an apology and that the Dutch
,unboat Gel derland would be ordered to
the Venezuelan coast to back up the de-
tnand with q naval demonstration against
Yer ezuela No confirmation Of these re-
or;s could be obtained at the State De-
lartment, however. While the Depart
tnent would maintain neutral attitude IL
Holland desires to spank Castro the belief
s expire sssd in official circles that II tho
Dutch Government has any idea Of bom-
harding Venezuelan ports she will prob
,bly notify the United States before she
tarries out her intention.
This Government would be gratiHed II
tome European Power would undertake
10 give President Castro sound thrasshing
provided there was no intention OF ac-
,uiring territory on the American con-
,lnent and respect was paid to the Monroe
Doctrine. IL any European nation should
announce to the United States an intention
II chastising Venezuela on general Prin-
,iples the State Department would gladly
cooperate.
Public demonstrations which took place
In he streets Of Willemstad, Curacao, yes
terday against Sehor Lopez, the vene-
:lelan Consul, and Sefior Gramcho, Vene-
ae o Ss Dutch psope the noI details
Of the incident were reported to the State
American Consul at Nillemstad. A large
mob, Mr.. Cheney said, gathered around
the Venezuelan Consul while he was on
the street and began. to stone him. One
Of the stones struck him but did not injure
him. The Consul drew a revolver to pro-
,ect himself and then took refuge in the
German consulate.
Senior 0ramoho. Consul Cheney added,
about his house and compelled him to re-
tract an article he had written derogatory
10 the Dutch Government. Both Se6or
lopez and Senior Gramcho sailed from
Curacoa yesterday on the steamer Mara
eaibo.
There is little likelihood that Holland
will attempt to lombard Venezuelan
ports because Of her small naval force
In American waters. The gunboat Gelder-
land. which left Willemstad yesterday for
Puerto Cabello to look after Dutch inter-
ests, is the only Dutch naval vessel In Amer
lean waters. She is Of $3.50 tons displsce-
ment and her largest guns are two inch
pieces forty calibres long.
Another deterrent Of hostilities Is the
financial arrangement adopted by the
Mixed Claims Commission OF 1908 which
placed a mortgage Of ~ per cent. on the
customs receipts Of Puerto Cabello and
La 0uayra to be used in the payment OF
the foreign creditors OF Venezuela. The
blockading powers Germany, Great BTi-
tain and 1taly-received preference In the
payment Of their claims and Venezuela
completed payments last summer upon
claims held by those countries
Thirty per cent. OF the revenues Of the
two principal Venezuelan ports are now de-
voted to the payment OF the secondary
creditors. who include the United States,
Mexico, Spain, France, Belgium the Neither
lands, Sweden and Norway. II Holland
should attack either Puerto Cabello or La
Guayra the regular payments TO these
foreign creditors would be interfered with.