Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
HOLLANDS ATTACK ON VENEZUELA

scopic CiprianO Castro. erStWhile OF Ca
racas, now of Berlin. should
Opera be some such genius of opera
pn bouffe as Jacques Offenbach.
The muleteer Of the Andes
Che has been called far worse names)
and president of the Venezuelan republic
yields nothing in bouffonic interest to the
Fritz and General Boum of the inimitable
"Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein."
But buffoons are not all fools in the
common acceptation of this word. and 1t
remains to be seen how this extraordi-
nary Castro is to be classed when the
play is finished. He has played many
fantastic tricks these late years, to the
great discomfort of both Europe and
America.
The purpose of Castros visit to Europe
told that it was to save the life Of Ven
ezuela? The outside world was informed
that 1t was to save the life of Castro by
an urgent surgical operation. Now we
are informed by the cablegrams that the
reception of Venezuela's president in
France was extremely frigid. The press
issued SO many fantastic interviews as
to what the French government would
do to the man who had grossly insulted
it a few months before that the govern
l1enl issued tno IOllOWl0S Oulictlll.
This note Is to explain that the gov
eminent has confined it's action to cause
the Venezuelan president to be informed
that If he comes to be treated for his
health no obstacle will be placed in his
disembarkment; that If he proposed to re-
establish diplomatic relations between
France and Venezuela the government
would not oppose any obstacle. on con-
dttion that he did not lend himself to
any manifestation which might tend to a
breach of the peace. If Castro should
not conform to these conditions he would
be Immediately expelled
Castro replied that he was leaving with
out delay for Berlin. Was there malice
or menace in the Vene-
Prompt zuelan's response: 1t
Departure. mattered not to the
French government, So
licitous only that he should not be per-
mitted to manifest on French soil, and,
above all. that in any probable row he
should not receive personal insult or in
jury
The Venezuelan's arrival in Berlin was
the signal of great manifestation on the
part or the Venezuelan colony. \ brass
band played the national hymn. and then
Castro dined, absorbing, 1t Is said, six
bottles Of wine at $12 per bottle" Such
Pantagrulian capacity is noted because
1t Is in contradiction to the assumed in
validity of the president. who was to be
submitted to the surgeons knife.
The following morning the Venezuelan
president, having sent a telegram to the
emperor. expressing his respectful saluta-
ton, called tremendously upon Chancellor
Won Buelow and Foreign Secretary Won
SchOn, and shortly after Councillor Geo
apknnUlo6Da vi
This bare, even scanty, recognition must
have been a blow to the Venezuelan s
pride. The press Of Berlin, besides, was
even less kind than that of Par.s.
The Vossiche Zeitung of the 18th in
slant expressed the hope that Castro
would carry home the conviction that the
large German interests in his country
should be treated with consideration, add
ing that Castro had not discharged his
debt to the civilizing influence Of Ger
many in Venezuela.
The Tageblatt assumes that Emperor
William will not answer President Cas-
tros telegram directly, but will reply
formally through the foreign Office.
The Tagliche Rundschau ridcules the
Venezuelan's communication and points
out with evident satisfaction that it had
not been answered.
In the meantime things in Caracas are
not going we'll for the Venezuelan presi-
dent Was 1t the discov-
Trouble cry that Castro's surgical
.+u. operation was a trick to
get away? Was it the
cool reception at Berlin that precipitated
the fury Of the people of Caracas that
swept over Castro's capital on the 18th
instant?
1t does not appear, indeed. that the rev.
11,. tn F,,l1 Iocf in, &c
directed against Holland, whose war
ships since the Sd instant have seized.
as retaliatory measures, number OF
Venezuelan vesse.s-seiZures which. 1t is
explained. are to be followed not by any
acts of violence, but by the enforcement
of peaceful blockade" notice of which
will be duly communicated to the powers.
There was for a moment on the 14th
instant a manifestation of national feel
ing against Holland. The crowd that as
sembled around the statue of Simon Boil
var. the "liberator." was intensely patri-
Otic, and denounced the action of Holland
as without any authority of international
law. Had not President Castro been alb
sent, it was said, no such action would
have been taken. But there must have
been in that crowd large number who
were not for the government. but against
Castro. Threats and maledictions were
uttered against Castro as the author of
VeneZuela's troubles. and like flash Of
fore was muttering against the Dutch
now turned its anger against CaStro-that
is. against the journal which represented
the tyrant. Ell CONSTITUTIONAL. a rabid
organ, whose editor, a partisan OF Castro,
Senior Gumersindo Rivas, in connec-
ton with the journal, was running a
steam laundry! Journal and laundry
alike went down and were looted and pill
LACED amid a quick fire from the revolt
vers Of the besieged.
This incident was the signal Of a gen.
eral attack by the Infatuated populace,
which, marching up and
Destructive down the main streets.
Well destroyed buildings. over
turned statues and burned
pictures and emblems which recalled the
hated Castro or extolled his self-extolled
virtues. The cablegrams from Caracas
of the 18th instant declare that Castros
rule is ended and his formal deposition
may be expected at any moment. But
among 'CastrO'S partisans there are some
who do not believe that he is fugitive.
transportation we're little more devel
oped they might hope to see their beloved
''liberator" promptly returned and quick
ly master of the situation.
Us it possible that the VeneZuelan's visit
to Berlin is neither because OF illness nor
that he desires peace or payment Of his
debts to France and the United States
nor an arrangement with Holland. but to
seek the protection OF Kaiser William
to him in view Of the protection which
II 10 alleged nrOnOspS to extend