East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-29
(From New YORK TImes. }

VI lOill ANGW AOAh n AAhhNDs(
Venezuela's side Of the controversy
which has eliminated in the sever
ance of diplomatic relations with the
United States has been only meagerly
presented through the press to the
American public, according to some Of
those having knowledge of both sides
Of the controversy.
In the opinion of a lawyer in this
city who is thoroughly familiar with
the cases In which arbitration Is de-
manded by the United States govern
ment, the American public is almost
entirely ignorant Of the contentious
upon which Venezuela bases her at
titude on the questions at issue.
This lawyer shares with others who
have closely followed the Venezuelan
controversy the opinion that 1t should
be understood that Venezuela bases
her stand in the matter on grounds
which her government considers right
and legal. and is not merely refusing
to behave with common decency to-
ward the United States, as is gener-
ally supposed in the country.
The lawyer in question gave his
views on the subject to a representa-
tive Of the New York Times and show
ed documents on the various Ameri-
can claims which have brought about
the present critical state of affairs be-
tween the United states and Venezue-
la. From these documents the fol-
lowing resume of the questions pend
ing Is taken, including In each case
the legal grounds upon which Vene-
zuela bases her action.
Bermudez Asphalt Case.
The most important case, and the
one most strongly sustained by the
department of state. is the suit of the
New York and Bermudez Alphalt
Company. 1t has been maintained
By Venezuela that this company stip-
ulated In its contract that the dis
putes and controversies arising there
from should be decided by the tri-
bunals Of Venezuela. Venezuela holds
further that the company entered In
to a conspiracy to overthrow the gov-
ernment OF Venezuela. The courts
OF Venezuela decided that the com.
.pany's concession was forfeited be-
cause of its failure to comply with
the terms Of the contract and its
completely with the Matos revolution.
II appeared from evidence heard In
New York court that the asphalt COM
pany had supplied funds to General
Manuel Antonia Matos to aid him in
his endeavor to overthrow the Castro
government.
In the case OF Arthur F. Jaurett,
who claims damages from Venezuela
as an American citizen for forcible
expulsion from that country. Venezue-
la maintains that he conspired against
the Venezuelan government. and that
in expelling him she was fully with
in her rights
The claim of the Orlnoco Steam-
ship company was submitted to the
Arbitration commission held at Car
acas In the summer of 1908. and, on
its main issues, was decided against
the company, although an award of
s2S,224 out of total claim of about
$f,4O0.O0O was made TO the claimant.
The department of state demands
that this case be reopened. Venezue-
la insists that by the terms of the
arbitration protocol the award must
be held as final. The umpire making
this award was C. a. H. Barge of Hol-
land. ex-governor of Curacao.
The claim of the Orlnoco company
was likewise submitted to arbitration
in 1903 and decided adversely to the
company The reopenlng of this case
is not asked, but it is alleged that
fresh wrongs have been inflicted up