The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-14
CASTRO QUITS PARIS
vENEzUELA's PRESIDENT AND
 PARTY DEPART FOR COLOGNE.
q ConsuItation of Physicians VIII Be Held to Determine Advisabiiity of An Operation-Vene-
 sueIa Desires Peace.

Paris. Dec. 1s.--President Castro of Venezuela and his party left here to- day for Cologne where a consultation of physicians will be held to deter mine upon the advisability of an Op- eration on the President.
 If an operation is found necessary. pr. Israel probably will perform 1t at Berlin. During his stay in this city, Castro kept himself closely confined to his hotel. refusing to give out any new statement to newspaper men ex- oept through some member of his suite. On the train. however. he accorded an interview to . representative Of The Temps. saying that as he was leaving France, he felt at liberty to receive a journalist. The interview while guarded. fully confirms the rap- resentations made by. Castro at San lander to the effect that he was de- sirous ofssettling venezuela's out standing diplomatic difficuitfes and So far as France is concerned. had all ready made the first steps In that di- rection. He said, however. that av- erything for the moment must be sub ordinated to the restoration of his health and that he would submit to an examination In Germany on which would depend the question of surgi- cal operation or merely medical .treat- ment. He added that he might return to Paris.
 While avoiding direct question as to what he expected to do towards set- tling venezula's foreign Quarrels. pointing out that as a private citizen" he was not qualified to answer nc made it clear that the resumption Of diplomatic relations with France de- pended directly upon the settlement or the French cable controversy.
 'Tt is ipcontestible," he said. that the French Cable Company was an ac- complice against my government m the Matos revolution"
 "But that did not justify the expul- sion of M. Taigny, the charge d'af- faires," said the interviewer.
 'Tn this, as in other differences with the powers" replied President Castro, ''Venezuela only defended herself"
 But there is also the matter of the French subjects at Ca&upabo," conttn- ued the interviewer.
 T took occasion when touched there" said the President, ito author ize their return. That is sufficient evt- dence of my desire for reconciliation"
 "And the' payment of the diplomatic debt under The Hague award?"
 "The payment has not ceased" re- marked Castro.
 Tn default of a French represents. tive at Caracas. the monthly payments have been depogited with the State bank of Venezuela
 In response to a question as to why he had refused to allow the Brazilian legation to act for France, President Castro replied:
 Because Brazil has charge of the interests of the United States and In the interests of, the good relations and
 Aka rontxh1ir1 it was deemed inadvisable to permit e neighboring republic to look after the affairs of an European power.
 In conclusion, President Castro twice repeated that Venezuela desired peace and harmony with France and the oth- CT powers, but declared emphatically that peace and harmony were depend ent upon others as we'll as Venezuela.
 It is specifically denied that Castro offered basis of settlement to the gov ernment while here.
 A member of his suite, however, de- clared that the Presidents personal rep- resentativai called upon Foreign Min- ister% Pinchon. pointing out that this might prove an entering wedge for future negotiations. Moreover. it is learned that some preliminary negotia- lions looking to the settlement of the French Cable Company matter occurred prior to Castro's arrival.
 Significant in this connection is the publication in one of the Paris news- papers of the cable company's side ot the controversy to prove that neither the company nor the French govern Inent was implicated in the Matos revo- iution. At the same time it is admitted that Mates communicated with Paris by cable through another European power" and that M Quiveux. the French Vice Consul at Caracas. who committed suicide in 1904, was compromised but without the knowledge of the company or the government