New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
ENGLAND NOT DECIDED
FRENCH AID REQUESTED.
Netherlands Sounding the Pozcers ON
Bringing Castro to Book.

that Great Britain Will 1lOl ldhc SoiiiO ~
ton to assist Holland in her present dispute
with President Castro of Venezuela, as there is
as yet no telling what turn this matter may
take" were the carefully weighed words OF an
official the Foreign Office. when asked this
morning about the dispatch from Rome set'ins
forth that the powers of Europe were III CUM
munication with another on this SUBJECT ana
that there had been some informal references 10
Venezuela between the British and American
diplomatic representatives. No declsloh' now
ever. the Rome dispatch said. had been reacned
| as to what action If any. would be taken.
Great Britain is in much the same position as
| the United States. the Foreign Office official
went on She had many grievances against
| President Castro, but reluctant to take ac-
| tion now that smaller power was llKeiy 10
! bring him to account. Great Britain feeis she
| can support Holland without being accused OF
| bullying little state, which probably would be
| the case If she acted individually.
| Paris. Aug. 29-The Netherlands government
has asked France, through the French Minister
! at The Hague whether it would be possible for
| France to cooperate with Holland in the pres
| ent difficulty with Venezuela France responded
| that she would consider the question ana no"
| has the matter under Amusement
| It is impossible to anticipate at this time the
| nature of Frances reply to the proposal OF the
| Netherlands The matter is not one to be
! handled hurriedly, and it entails so many I'M
| portant questions that it probably Will nave 10
| await formal meeting between Premier Gle
menceau and the members OF the Cablnet. many
| Of whom are absent from the city
| Although France has practically dropped the
question of her relations with Venezuela since
President Castro refused to allow Brazil to take
over French interests, attention has peen at
tracted to the matter anew by the recent con-
| demnation of the French Gable Company by the
| Venezuelan courts to pay damages for alleged
= completely in the Matos revolution OF I9Oo 10
| the amount Of S5,OOO,OOO. In fact. this judg-
| ment from the French point OF view, mas re-
| opened the entire matter.
At the same time the action of the venezuelan
| courts explains according to the opinion held IN
well informed circles here, why President Castro
| did not permit Brazil TO represent France in
| Venezuela it being held that President Castro
| wished to make it impossible for Brazil to re-
/ nonstrate against this verdict which is re-
| garded here absurd
In unofficial circles there Is some disposition
| to point out that France, whose minister was
| literally driven from Caracas is. we'll as Hol-
land and the other countries interested. placed in
| an embarrassing position on account Of the In
| action Of the United States with regard to this
| South American republic. 1t is generally ad-
| mftted thaN America ma. greater right TO take
| the initiative in anything pertaining 10 Ven
| eziea than any other country concerned
Berlin. Aug 29-The government of the
| Netherlands has not hroached the idea OF CO.
| operation on the part OF the other powers against
| Venezuela to Germany. The Foreign Office In
| formed The Associated Press to-day that Ger
| many, whose relations with Venezuela are on a
correct and friendly basis. would not be In po-
| sition TO take part In any Joint action against
Venezuela. were such course proposed.
| Rome. Aug. 2a.-The Foreign Office this even
| ing denied that the Italian government would
| interfere in any way In the controversy between
| Holland and Venezuela. This denial was issued
| 20 offset report current that Italy, together
| with other powers might aid Holland in any ac-
ton which it might take against President
| Castro.
The Hague, Aug. 29-Reports received here
| from other capitals that Holland is requesting
| the powers to Join her In furnishing Venezuela
| cause great surprise. II had been felt that the
| Netherlands government wanted to plough its
| ,wn furrow. and had asked the othe powers to
| adhere only to policy OF hands off" 1t was
| believed that Holland had adopted this attitude
| because her grievances against Venezuela were
| more intimately concerned with the national
| honor and were not so purely commercial as
| those Of her nelghbors. The reasons for the ap-
| parent change in the programme are not made
! public.
The itch newspapers are beginning to pro-
test against the secrecy with which the gov
ernment covers the Venezuelan situation. and
ask for details OF the report made bye NJ de
Reus, the former Minister TO Venezuela, and the
correspondence which has passed between the
government and the members of President
Castro's Cabinet. The papers demand especially
that the government shall not embark any
proceedings involving heavy expense without the
approval of the people.
The Netherlands government apparently is
| satisfied with the explanations made by NJ. de
Reus relative to the letter criticising Presi-
dent Castro and his government, which was
published in Amsterdam three months ago and
which is alleged to have been the reason for the
minister's expulsion from Venezuela. Further
more the Netherlands has intention of dis
| avowng NJ. de Reus apologizing for his ac-
ton
NJ. de Reus will be among the guests Of For
eign Minister Van swinderen at a dinner to be
given 10 the members of the diplomatic corps
next Monday. in honor of the birthday Queen
Wilhemna.
! Washington Aug 29-The report from, Lon
dom indicating the possibility of Great Britain
taking some action to assist Holland in her dis =
| pute with President Castro and that there had
been informal references to Venezuela between
the British and American diplomatic repre-
sentatives that subject. called forth the state
ment by officials Of the State Department to-
day that the United States was simply watching
and waiting developments in the Venezuelan
affair. The United States. it was said. would