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

hc6otidtiiiS a tIcdty VI q SStiouo pohNiNoi
character.
Holland" says the Pail Mall Gazette.
occupies a geographical situation OF SUI
preme Importance and it has always been
in England's mind to insure her strategic
independence.
1T will be made apparent that England
is not alone in desiring that independence.
Sweden. Norway. Denmark and others
would likewise welcome the guaranteed
independence Of the Netherlands.
1.-THE Netherlands is n little nation. ex-
tremely proud of it's independence and its
traditions II England assured her protec-
ton Germany should not take umbrage
On the contrary, England should be Sc
riously troubled to- see German influence
dominate The Hague. There was a mo-
ment when it seemed certain the Neither
lands would become a part of the German
confederation for the reason that 1t
seemed necessary to seek a powerful pro-
lection for her colonial possessions. The
national Netherland sentiment has always
been hostile to that tendency. but it would
be less hostile perhaps to the formal pro-
lection of England, IL the latter by
treaty of alliance In due form guaranteed
to the Netherlands the possession OF the
rich colonies OF Java and Sumatra and at
the same time the integrity Of her terri
tory.
I'm case OF European war England
would be the only power capable of pre-
venting the capture of the
Englands Dutch India possessions
pouor by Germany, as she would
be also the only power ca
pable of effica ciously aiding the Dutch in
defending their national independence.
England would have. besides. the greatest
interest in opposing the seizure of Dutch
seaports by the Germans. Also be sure
that the government Of London would not
be content with guaranteeing the neu-
trality of Holland; 1T knows full well that
guaranteed neutrality has only the prac-
teal value which is given it. and that it
has no value in the face Of an accom-
plished fact of an attack or an INVASION
In 1903 France. Germany, Great Britain
and Italy were claimants against the Cas-
tro government at Caracas for non-pay-
ment of claims. and the four latter bonn
barded Forts Puerto Cabello and San Car
los with the assent of the United States
with due regard to the inviolability of the
Monroe doctrine. After peaceful block
age that followed Castro submitted. his
honor and pride satisfied by the military
proceeding. and the matter was referred
to The Hague, which decided in favor OF
the claims of the allies.
Since then Castro has expelled the rep
resentatives Of France and Holland. In
1903 he brought action against the French
Gable Company, alleging non-execu-
ton Of contract. and that during the in
surrectiOn of 1902 this company had aided
and abetted Gen. Matos. The courts of
Caracas annulled the contract. On the
10Th of September the minister of foreign
affairs, replying to an energetic but polite
note from NJ. Taigny, the French charge
d affaires. used the following language:
The Venezuelan government will not
continue to treat diplomatic questions
with the actual representative of France
until has received the satisfactory eX-
PLANTATION required by good friendship be-
tween nations
NJ. Rouvier, then minister Of foreign
affairs. thereupon caused NJ. Maubourget,
charge d'affaires of Vene-
Relations zuela at Paris, to be
sa1or.d withdrawn and demanded
likewise the withdrawal
Of the offensive note cited above. The
manner of ceasing relations with the
French representative was unique In the
history of diplomacy. The cable COM
pany having been seized by the Venezue-
Ian government the French charge dat
faires went to La Guaira and on board
the French steamer for the purpose Of
communicating with his government
When he attempted to return on shore
the customs officers refused to permit him
anu IC " 40 illus oDilScu ~ IeiIldlH On the
steamer. The French government on
learning Of the indignity offered to its
representative Immediately broke off all
relations with Castro, who recently boast
ed that he had caught the charge daft
fairies as "a rat in a trap"
The breach between Castro and The
Hague In July OF this year was reported
to the State Department by the American
consul at Caracas:
THE government of Venezuela has sent
naSSnOrtS to the Dnfrb min ictor
Reus. on account Of a letter written by
the latter and published in the bulletin
OF the commercial association of Am
sterdam, which severely criticised COM
mercial and political conditions
The infraction of the diplomatic code
was very slight compared with the serious
truths contained in the Dutch minister's
letter, which is destined to receive repa-
ration and atonement at no distant day
The Saturday Review contains an article
entitled The 1rrepressible Castro which
insinuates that the German government
engineered the joint naval demonstration
of 1903. undertaken it says. '-ostensibly
for the purpose of coercing Venezuela to
pay her debts to German, Italian and
English subjects. but really for the pur-
pose Of testing the elasticity of the Mon
roe doctrine. Germany wanted to ascer-
tain the possibility OF acquiring territory
on the mainland or preferably the rich
and fertile island Of Margarita to satis-
fy her longings for colonial expansion.
The Saturday Review concluded: 1.-The
Venezuelan explanat ton OF the surprising
tameness OF the American
VeHe1ue1aS government in the asphalt
Sto+ana,+ disputes with Venezuela
and Of a similar spirit
Of forbearance on the part of the French
government in its dispute in the Franco
Venezuelan cable affair. is that Castro
holds documents that would fix most I'M
savory responsibility on influential Ameri-
can and French politicians
There IS in the notice Of the events of
the 18th instant allusiOn to the hardness
of the United States government to act
against Venezuela on the ground that any
result in making Castro a hero I'm Vene-
zuela. The United States. it is said. would
ignore Castro and. applying a British ex-
preston employed In case of the mahdi in
the Sudan. leave Castro to stew in his
own juice"
There is mention, too. in the notice of
Castro's presence in Berlin that he is
there ito seek alliance with Germany"
The Island of Margarita is a tempting
price to protect Castro, and the kaiser
reported solitary retirement, since his
bout with the reichstag. may he due to
the serious consideration OF the Castro