The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-19
 DUTCH VESSEL WASSENT BACK Castro Denies Entrance = Caracas. vESSy WOULD NOT SALUTE Gsy ln Minister is Unable to
 Secure Dispatches. Venezuelan Merchants Are Heavy Los- CTS Through the Disorgsnisa-
 ton of the Steamer
 Schedules.
Ssr WOULD NOT SALUTE


 Dutch cruiser Gelderland, after taking away Minister Dereus. came back to LaGauira last Saturday without salut- ing, and with decks in fighting trim, the greatest excitement reigned here In Caracas. as 1t was known that Castro's new French coast defense guns, mount ed on the mountainside near LAGauira, and on the beach, had been made ready to meet any emergency.
 Speculation was rife as to whether the warship would bring an apology for the Deruse letter and the stoning of Consul Lopez in Curacao. demand for the release of Carlos Gentia. Dutch merchant of LaGuaira. recently imprisoned on a contraband charge, or an ultimatum of some kind.
 The curious were doomed to disap- pointment, however. as the unexpected happened. as 1t usually does here. The cruiser was not allowed to communi- cate with the shore or deliver any of tho documents which 1t brought, pDe- sumably because of it's failure to salute on this and on a recent occasion, has been considered an offense by President Castro. So the Gelderfand had to re- turn to Curacao with It's mission unfnI. filled
 Meanwhile the German Minister, Bar on von Seckendorff, was found in Cara cas because he could not obtain per- mission from the government for the German Consul to so alongside of the cruiser to see if there were not some expected dispatches for him. Minister Dereus had left him in charge of the Dutch interests and he was at his wita end to know what to do because of the absolute impossibiltty Of communicat- inG with his government. The Baron Is almost the only diplomat in Caracas who has been able to remain persona Rrata. but now that he Is burdened with the Dutch affairs. he is In danger of losing that distinction.
 On learning of the stoning of his Consul in Curacao and the destruction of the Venezuelan shield and consulate there, General Castro lost no time in severing diplomatic relations with the Queen of Holland, pending an apology and indemnincafion for the Insults al- Ieged to have been recently suffered.
 Not only did Castro immediately withdraw the execuateurs from all the Dutch Consuls excepting that of Com sul Hellmud. at Caracas for personal considerations, but he has issued an order prohibiting the entry of vessels into Venezuelan ports when cleared by Consul Generals. unless these consuls have received authorization from the Venezuelan government. This is a last blow dealt Curacao in punishment for it's late riot, for 1t means that steamers coming from that island will not be ai- lowed to enter Venezuelan ports be- caues there is no Venezuelan Consul there. As the Venezuelan trade Is of greater importance to the steamship lines. 1t is expected that Curacao will therefore be dropped from the steamers itineraries
 Venezuelan merchants have already been heavy losers on account of the disorganization of the steamer sched. ules, due to the Curacao complications following so closely upon the plague disturbance. Whole cargoes of mer- chandise are beeng carried back and forth, nobody knows where, and Cura', cao is piled up with goods in transit from Europe which now have no chance of getting to Venezuela.
 The Venezuelan schooner Maria Abl" gall, loaded with sugar from Maracatoo has returned to its home port with it's cargo as "the people of Curacao, in a riot, with shouts and stones. did not permit a landing, but fortunately the government succeeded in saving the lives of the crew." according to an offi- cial report to President Castro.
 Castro Down on French.
 A sensation has been caused in diplomatic circles by the refusal or President Castro to permit the Brazilian. minister to take charge of French fn-
  Paul, the Venezuelan Minister Of Foreign Affairs originally agreed to this arrangement. As a consequence of the attitude of President Castro, the Foreign Minister has indicted second note to the effect that the government now refuses to accede to this arrange ment because the dispute between Venezuela and France bears a close relation to Venezuelas dispute with the United States and the proposed arrangement will therefore endanger the continuance of friendly relations with Brazil.
 The French interests necessarily are being neglected and many monthly in- stallments due to French claimants are still uncollected. It is very unlikely in view of the present state of affairs that President Castro will permit the repre- sentative of any foreign country to take French interests in hand.
 President Castro left today for a trip to Barauisimeto. embarking on the gunboat Restaurador for Tucacas, which is about twenty-five miles from Puerto Cabello. The President invited the British Minister to accompany him, which is believed to be significant in view of the present crisis.