The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
CASTRO FURIOUS
At ICY WELCOME
FOUND IN PARIS
Venezuelan Dictator WratI1y at
French Government for
Manner of Reception
Considerations on Which Neg0-
tiations Will Be Reopened Be-
lieved to Involve Apology
"Black Eagle OF Andes" Tells
Woman interviewer He Is
in Perfect Health

PARIS, Dec. 12.-President Castro of
Venezuela, who arrived in this city last
evening from Bordeaux, has made no
advances to the French government up
TO noon today. He is reported as furi-
ously angry at the manner in which
the government has received him in
France. Since his arrival in Paris he
has remained shut up in his apartments
in the hotel as closely as though he
were prisoner, and, barring a few
members of the Venezuelan colony, he
has seen nobody.
Newspapers Protest
The Temps protests loudly against
the equivocal position in which France
has been placed by the presence of
President Castro in the country, and
insists that the government explain
the enigma forthwith. The papers say
it is undignified to allow man who
fiouted France to remain here without
apology.
When NJ. Taigny Cwho was French
minister at Caracas) was expelled"
Temps declares, America was supplied
by our inaction and today Holland,
with less of case, is giving US good
lesson"
The officials OF the foreign Office have
been given orders not to explain the
position Of the government toward
Castro. Said one official today:
Apology Involved
1.-The conditions upon which the gov
eminent is willing to open negotiations
with President Castro have been COM
municated to him."
What these conditions are, beyond
prohibiting President Castro from max
ing any political declaration. are not
known, but it is believed that they in
volve formal apology.
The French newspapers generally
poke fun at the Venezuelan dicta-
tor; nevertheless, they insist that the
government explain the reasons that
induces it to change its attitude toward
him.
Provokes Controversy
Castros somewhat theatrical arrival
in Europe has provoked controversy as
to his character and capabilities. This
is by no means generally denunciatory
or contemptuous, though in Paris vaude-
vile houses the Venezuelan executives.
name is coupled with saucy jibes. and
the French cartoonists make sport of
the BLACK Eagles of the Andes" de-
claring that the bird has been Invested
of its plumage.
Castros courage and ingenuity are
conceded even by those who think little
of his political probity.
interviewed by Woman
Where others had failed a woman
writer of newspaper succeeded in
getting an amusing interview with
! President Castro by sending UP to
him letter in Spanish asking him to
deliver lecture on Venezuela before
the American league.
When the Venezuelan president ap-
peared he was muffied up in a thick
coat and almost smothered in a cap.
He was very ungracious at first, but
finding that she was not Spanish
woman, but a Parisenne, cheered him
I'D. He asked her, with a glance out
of the window at the lowering gray
sky, was it always cold in Paris. The
woman replied that it was winter now,
and said if he went to Berlin for an
g.
there.
Is Not Sick
operation" exclaimed President
Castro, 81 am no more sick than you
are
! Asked why he did not go to the
Rivera, President Castro SAID that he
had heard of it. Here the interviewer,
seeing an opportunity to introduce
politics, replied:
Perhaps you will not be permitted
to go there"
'I do exactly as wish" said Castro
emphasizing his words with a thump
on the table with his fist. He answered
! the other questions with clumsy com
pIiments, concluding by smilingly say
| ing that it was the brightest hour Of
his stay in Paris, from which city he
was departing tomorrow.
Will Not Sieze Merchantmen
THE HAGUE, Dec. 12.-It was stated
in official quarters today that the
seizure on the high seas of Venezuelan
merchantmen or the stopping of other
vessels trading between Venezuelan
ports is not contemplated in the present
instructions to the Dutch warships now
on duty in Venezuelan waters. Action
is to be taken only against vessels
connected with the Venezuelan navy
and fha marina police servfce