New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-04
r4STRO'S QUEER DIPLOMACY.

The Dictator of Venezuela certainly has queer
notions of diplomatic peace making or peace
keenipg He pretends to be DESTROYS or main
tanning friendly relations with Brazil with
which country he was not long ago almost at
war. but which he now regards as a much more
desirable friend than 1.-The barbarians of Europe
and the other America" Consequently ne goes
out of his way to slight and affront that coun-
try For that is substantially what he has done
in the case of the representation of French In
terests For long time France has had no
diplomatic representative of her own at Ca
racas Down to Mr. Russell's departure from
that delectable capital the American Legation
was charged with the formal protection Of
French interests But upon that incident both
French and American interests were cont1ded 10
the care of the Brazilian Legation, as was emil
nently proper. Mr.. Castro appears to have as
scented to that arrangement so far as America
was concerned, and, indeed for a time, so far
as France was concerned. But low he recon
slders the matter, consistency and constancy
being virtues of small minds, and declares that
he cannot permit Brazil to look after French
interests in Venezuela. Accordingly France
must for the time remain entirely unrepre-
scented.
There is no question of Mr.. Castros right to
take this extraordinary ground. He could OBJ
iect to any diplomatic representation whatso-
ever But the absurd feature Of the case is
that he processes to do this for the sake Of safe
guarding his friendly relations with Brazil,
when as a matter of fact he comes perllouSiy
near 10 straning those relations TO the breaking
point We have said that be has an undoubted
right to refuse to recognize Brazil as Frances
next friend. But France had an equal right
thus to designate Brazil and Brazil had the
same right to accept the commission. And
riO n
that her offices will be received, unless there IS
some convincing reason why they should not be-
The only reason which the Dictator offers IS
quite unsatisfactory, since ii implies a degree
Of pstilty between Venezuela and France
which does not exist, or which certainly is not
known or supposed to exist. Moreover, his re-
lection Of Brazil's offices now, after he had &C
cepted them. complexities the matter, since it i'm
plies that something has happened between then
and now to change Venezuelan relations with
France and the world knows Of no such thing.
Brazil being a great power. enlightened In It's
diplomacy and accustomed TO treat others with
courtesy. can probably afford TO regard such
antics on Mr.. Castro's part with good natured
tolerance though she doubtless feels that she is
being treated shabbily and boorishly by some
body who probably knows no better. But the
position Of Venezuela, Of Mr.. Castro, before
the world is certainly not being improved. Only
six countries now retain legations at Caracas.
-Four Of these commit their interests to charges
d'affaires, and only two Great Britain and Ger
many, keep their ministers at their posts 1t
may be that the BLACK Eagle of the Andes"
as Mr.. Castro calls himself. would be pleased
10 have them all get out. and to manage Vencz-
uela after the fashion of Francia. in Paraguay.
years ago. But we shouldn't wonder If he
would find that impracticabe at this date in
the worlds history.