Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-13
Castro Asserts That Is His
Present Status.
PROTESTS TO THE WORLD
May Die on Voyage, But Puts His
Trust in God.
ESCORTED BY AMERICAN SHIPS
Cruisers North Carolina and Mon
tana Following the Steamer Con-
veying Fallen Dictator.

NEW YORK. April 13.-The Herald
prints the following under date Of Point
Pitre. Guadeloupe. Monday:
The steamship Versailles. still escorted
by the United States cruisers North Caro-
lima and Montana, entered this port at
10 yesterday morning with Senior Castro
aboard. asked Immediately for an In
terview. which was refused under the
pretext Of acute suffering. Orders. I was
told. had been given by Senior Castro to
avoid all visitors.
When I insisted I alone was granted
an auo.ence. 1t lasted half an hour. Senior
Castro lay In bed. apparently suffering.
The door Of his cabin was guarded by a
valet. The deposed president showed
signs Of great depression. at times waving
his hand on which glittered an enormous
diamond
Who would have recognized In this man.
needless of all decorum. the dictator who
only short time ago scornfully Knocked
the powers? "Comediante-Trage diantei"
said Pope Plus VII Of Napoleon. These
famous words flashed to my memory as
listened to the fallen president now an
exile without refuge. hospitality being de-
MED him everywhere.
Makes Strong Protest.
Senior Castro was at first annoyed by
the interview. but slowly gained conf
dence and became very talkatiye. He
protested against the treatment he had
received from the French at Martinique
which he considered breach OF all inter-
national laws He said that, against his
expectations from a nation which held
the record for hospitality to eXiles. he
was expelled by the Governor of Mar
Unique, that although sick and even dy-
ing he was carried despite his protest to
the Versailles at o'clock in the evening
on a litter. escorted by gendarmes and
the mayor.
Being unable to move he has since been
confined to bed in his cabin. His passage
was paid by the French authorities. he
having refused to purchase a ticket
Asked about his future plans. he replied
that France alone can decide, as he con-
siders himself a prisoner of the French
government.
His intention. he declared. was to re-
main at Trinidad only to attend to his
private. commercial and financial inter
ests in Venezuela. Hospitality having
been denied by the British he landed at
Fort de France. confident in the French
nations courtesy. only to be. four days
later, expelled manu- militari." He de-
clares before the whole world. through
the Herald, that Ii is shame to thus
treat a dying man who never committed
any crime.
In Poverty, He Declares.
If allowed to land in Venezuela, he de-
clared. he would claim before the courts
his land and fortune, which were spoi
ated, and asserts that France. England
and America have agreed to be the in
strument of revenge of his enemies in
Caracas. and that such a position is un-
dignified for civilized powers.
Senior Castro added that he is now
ruined, having scarcely 5000 instead of
the $GO,OOOOOO as reported. and, accord
ingly, is incapable of any military attempt
to regain the presidency. On being asked
regarding his intentions on his arrival at
st. Nazaire, French territory being pro-
hibited, he declared that he will not pro-
coed to Germany or elsewhere. but will
remain prisoner of the French govern
ment which will decide, if he does not
die during the voyage. He said he in
trusts his fate to God.
The Versailles steamed away at midday.