The San Francisco call., 1908-12-23
Discovery of Plot to Assassinate
Vice President Causes
DictatOr's Overthrow
Acting Executive of the Repub-
lie Arrests Single Handed
Bold COnspirators
Gomez Forms Cabinet and
Takes Steps to Re-estabIish
Peace With World

a SASS w fAh w Oll
~ ARAcAs. Dec. 81. via wnIem-
stad, Dec. 22-The end OF the
rule in Venezuela of Cipriano
Castro has come The dictator,
who has governed the republic with
rod OF iron ever since he took forcible
possession OF the yellow house in Cara
cas- in 1893, is now openly charged with
conspiracy to compass the assassination
OF man he left at the head OF the re-
public when he sailed away November
% for La Guira, nominally to secure
skilled medical aid in Berlin for a NAL
aoy OF long standing, and is today thor
oughly discredited. The Bank of Vene-
zuela has cabled its correspondents at
Berlin and Paris canceling the unlim-
tied letter OF credit given to President
Castro when he left Venezuela for
Europe, and no one in Caracas believes
he will ever dare return to the capital.
The Castro cabinet has been forced TO
resign and a new and progressive min
istry has been appointed by Juan vi
cente Gomez, the acting president.
Gomez Arrests RingIeaders
The attempt on the life of Gomez was
frustrated by the GOODNESS and courage
and the daring act Of the president him
self Alone and unsupported, he arrest
ed the rtngIeaders OF the conspiracy
with his own hands in the presence of
their armed adherents. and after this
action he issued proclamation saying
that not only had he saved his own life.
but he had maintained the highest
ideals of the republic.
At a conference held yesterday be-
tween acting President Gomez and
Baron Won Seckendorf, the German min
lister. in charge Of the interests of Hol-
land since the departure OF the Dutch
minister, NJ. de Reus. last summer, it
was agreed to suspend the operation of
the decree issued by President Castro
prohibiting the transshipment Of goods
destined for Venezuela. Pending the
signing OF the treaty between Holland
and a duly empowered Venezuelan com
missioner the Dutch wzrships that have
been patrolIing the Venezuelan coast
for nearly three weeks will be with
drawn
Plot Nipped in Bud
The attempt to assassinate Gomez
and several of the ministers was de-
cided upon on Friday night, December
IS. Gomez heard of the plot and took
the personal stand that nipped it in
the bud.
: The men concerned in the conspiracy
were President Castro's closest friends
and best known adherents. Secret
cipher csblegrams have passed between
President Castro in Berlin and his
agents here since the popular anti
castro demonstration on December 13
and i. A prominent lawyer has filed
an accusation in the high court, charg-
ing President Castro with completely
in the plot TO assassinate Gomez and
proposing the Impeachment of Castro.
There is TO be a general reorganiza-
tfon OF the government. The fall of
President Castro leaves no obstacle
ia the way of settling the various in
ternational questions confronting the
republic.
Jose de Jesus Paul, the former min
lister Of foreign affairs, who played a
prominent part in all of venezuela's
foreign relations for the last six
months has been commanded to go
10 Europe TO settle ali outstanding e
disputes with foreign powers. He viii
leave here December "a. Senior Paul
has advised the diplomatic representa-
tives here that measures to preserve
order and protect the interests of for
eigners viii be taken. The new gov
ernor of Caracas is Aguiles Iturbo.
Seeks Peace With World
Acting President Gomez issued a
proclamation yesterday as follows:
.FelIow patriots: assumed charge
OF the presidency of Venezuela under
the terms Of the constitution. I under
took these duties without personal am
bition. From the first ] endeavored to
conciIiate the aspirations of the peo-
pie with my high obligations. and to
this end I established, in accordance
with our national institutions. an ad-
minIstration that recognized all per-
soual and public guarantees.
Unfortunately my good Intentions
met with ipcomprehensible hindrance on
the part OF few persons who called
themselves intimate friends of General
Castro. Not only did these persons
block the carrying out by me of my
legal duties. but they stopped to con-
spiracy and elaborated diabolical plot
against my life.
ais conspiracy was crushed yester-
day when 1 personally faced the plot
fers and Imprisoned them. BY so doing
4 saved more than my personal exist
Continued ON Page 2, Column 3