Arizona republican., 1908-06-24
BREAKING OFF
 OF RELATIONS
Between the United States
 and Castro's Government
The Closing of the Ameri- can Legation In VeneZue- Ian Capitol.

Caracas, June 23.1Members of the American legation are awaiting the ar rival of the United States gunboat Marietta at Cabello. The warship has been ordered for the purpose of trans ferring Americans to the United States
 Jacob Sleeper who has been acting as charge d'affaires since the depart ure os the American minister, w. w. Russell, and Lieutenant Francis A Ruggles, military attache, withdrew from the legation at Caracas on Sat urday and proceeded to Fort Caballo. The interests of the United States have been placed in charge of the Brazilian legation, the representative of Euro pean nations having considerable fric- tion with President Castro's govern ment. The American consular agent, John Brewer, remains here in charge of the archives.
 Castro returned here suddenly a few days ago after a long absence in the interior, and his arrival attracted much attention. All kinds of rumnrs were current and the withdrawal of the rep resentatives of the United States is not quite understood by Venezuelans. Prob ably, too, there will be an early rup- ture with Holland. There are reports of a revolution against the administra- tion being organized in Colombia.
 As matters now stand, the United States, France and Colombia have practically relations with Venezu- ela Great Britain and Holland have serious questions pending with the government. Germany alone has no dispute.
 The Constitutional, President Cas- tro's organ, in an editorial today says:
 "The United States, in closing its sensational diplomatic process in such an unexpected way, cannot weaken the spirit of brotherhood. and the high con sideration of the Venezuelan people toward the United States. The Venez- uelan government and president have the satisfaction of assessing justice and law in the attitude in which they have maintained an undisputed ad- hesion to the people"
 With the withdrawal from the lega- tion, Sleeper sent a note to the gov ernment asking for his passports. This was answered in very obnsiderate lan- guage. and the American charge d'af- faires was informed that passports were unnecessary, inasmuch asNheper- sonally was persona grata, and that diplomatic immunity would continue until he was on board the Marietta, there being no question of war in volved The communication to Sleep CT extended him the cordial wishes of the administration for happy voyage.
 The recent diplomatic friction be- tween Venezuela and Holland over the closing of Venezuelan ports to Dutch vessels. and Castro's decree prohibit ing the trans-shipment of cargo at the island of Curacao. reached a crisis several days ago, when the president vigorously answered a note sent to him by the Dutch minister, J. H. De Reus. protesting against the decree and criticising the Venezuelan consul at Willemstadt
 Castro refused to modify the orders which he had issued. Minister De- Reus is now awaiting instructions from the Hague, and opinion among diplO- mats here and others in well-informed circles is that the severing of rela- tions between the two countries is not unlikely.
 There has been a great reduction of