New-York tribune., 1908-03-10
VENEZUELA INSOLENT.
IN ULTIMATUM POSSIBLE.
Correspondence VIII ShOU Craze
Discourtesy to United States.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington March 9-That Venezuela has
treated this country with grave discourtesy, not
to say contempt will be evident when the cor
respondence between that country and the
United States is made public, as ii will be when
the Department of State forwards to the Senate
the papers called for by the Lodge resolution
In fact it is probable that Senators did not
realize the extent to which they would be en-
barrassed by the publication of the facts when
they passed the Lodge resolution
The Department of State has made every pos
sible effort to obtain courtesy. to say nothing Of
justice. from the Castro regime. and the Secre-
tary of State now admits that he has done all
he and that the further disposition of the
case rests with Congress- According to the
view taken at the State Department. this coun-
try must deliver ultmatum and follow it
with the application of force, or else COM
pacentIy and supinely submit to treatment from
Venezuela which would be the occasion of i'm
mediate reprisals were it offered to a European
nation.
But even military measures do not promise
an immediate or satisfactory solution of the
difficulty because of the Typographical Difficult
ties of the country. 1t would be easy for a
small naval force to seize the coast cities, such
they are. but President Castro and his ad-
ministration would then be two weeks march
back in the interior, at the end of an almost i'm
passable mountain road.
If ever there was an Executive who should
be made TO feel the Christening effect of a heavy
paternal hand that Executive is Castro accord
ing to the view of the President and the Sec
retary of State. And yet there a grave ques-
tion if it would be wise prOfitab Bile for the
United States to undertake to administer the
sadly needed Chastisement. It IS a serious ques
tion if popular approval would greet the ap
plication of force. 1t is equally questionable
if the United States could gracefully under
take the unpleasant task in view of the work
this country, and especially this administration.
has been doing TO promote international peace
And yet, ask officials. is it the wish of the peo-
pie or the judgment of Congress that the gov
ernment should supiney submit to contumeous
! treatment at the hands of a seTi-cfvilized and
wholly uncouth South American dictatorship?
This is precisely the question which the admin
istratIon expects Congress to answer-the prob
lem which it will soon be up to Congress 10
soIve-and it was to that end that the Secre-
/ tary of State suggested to Senator Lodge the
advisablity of introducing his resolution
Mr.. Root regards the position of the United
States precisely similar to that of a well
dressed man in the street whose shiny silk
hat and immaculate costume are being con-
stantly besmeared by a ragged urchin who per
sists in throwing mud balls. Can the well
dressed man cast aside his raiment and chase
the little pest without too greatly sacrificing
his dignity? This is the question which was
eravely asked by Secretary Hay
Among the interesting material which Will De
forwarded to the Senate will be the report
made TO the President by William J. Calhoun
whom the Executive sent to Venezuela to make
a special investigation.