The sun., 1909-02-14
VENEZUELA DISPUTE ENDED
PROTOCOL SIGNED FOR 40
JUSTMENT or n. q. CLdIMA.

Bermodez Company to Get Back In Prop
erty and Make . Small Payment q
Damages Ortnoce Cssos TO ths
Hague Court Indemnity for Jaurest.
WAsHNoToN. Feb 13.-A comp,yte
agreement has been reached bet,sesn
William I. Buchanan. special oommis-
sioner representing the United States.
and President Gomez Of venezuela :
garding the settlement Of the five psndine
American claims. A protocol embodyins
the terms Of this agreement has bean
signed and ratified by the venexuelan
Cabinet.
The negotiations have been In progress
ever since the revolution by which former
President Castro was deposed. Me-.
Buchanan notified the State Department
to-day Of the completion OF his work,
adding that he will probably sail for ths
United States on the cruiser Des Moines
next Tuesday.
The American claims have been out
standing for several years and their
settlement clears the way for the resump-
ton Of friendly relations between the
United States and Venezuela. W. ".
Russell. American Minister TO Venezuels,
will return to Caracas. He 10 now In
Washington and will remain here until
Mr.. Buchanan returns.
Whila N aOxnnlata rorz~k - A.
OF the agreement has not been received
at the State Department, 1t Is known
that the claim Of the Now York and
Bemudez Asphalt Company. the most
important and complex OF the dis
putes. between the two countries.
has been settled by direct negotiations
between representatives Of tho asphalt
company and President Gomez. The
terms OF the agreement have not been
cabled to the Department, but they are
entirely satisfactory not only to the
United States and Venezuela but also
to the asphalt company.
The New York and Bermudes COM
pany was dispossessed OF Its control
Of an asphalt lake known as La Fslicidad
some years ago. The Venezuelan Gov
In the hands Of receiver. an act which
was described by the company as a prao-
tical oonhsoation Of its property. The
Venezuelan Government justified It's
course by the charge that the company
had instigated the Matos revolution.
The settlement between the reprs-
sentatives OF the asphalt company and
the Venezuelan Government was reached
through the assistance OF Commissioner
Buchanan. Tho asphalt company. IL is
said. Ia TO regain possession Of its prop
erty and to pay to the Government a
minimum revenue Of $4,000 per annum.
In addition the company has agreed
to pay to the Government $50 900 to settle
the suit fled by the Government against
the asphalt company because OF its part
in the Matos rebellion.
The claim OF the Orinoco Steamship
Company. TO which had been granted
exclusive right Of navigation on branches
Of the Orinoco River. and the case Of the
Orinoco Corporation. which has conoes-
slons Of iron mines, hardwood forests
and asphalt deposits, will go TO the Hague
court for arbitration. The case Of the
United States and Venezuela company.
which has never been arbitrated. will
also go to the Hague court.
The case Of A. F. Jaurett, an American,
citizen who was summarily ex PEELED from
Caracas by former President Castro. will
be settled by the payment Of an indsm-
nifty OF 5000 by the Venezuelan Govern
nent
The settlement OF the claims marks the
Of long period Of negotiations.
" hich became so acute last winter as to
,ause a break in the friendly relations
between the two countries. Shortly after
'ir. Root became Secretary OF State In
o05 he began an active prosecution OF
he American claims. His efforts cul-
minated last winter in instructions 20
dr. Russell. then American Minister 10
,aracas, to request the arbitration OF all
he claims collectively or separately ao-
ording to the wishes Of the Venezuelan
President Castro bluntly declined to
rbitrate. Mr.. Root then disoon tinued
iplomatic efforts to effect a settlement
Z the claims and withdrew the American
iinister from Caracas, An attempt was
nade to induce Congress to authorize
tariff measures, but no prog
ass was made in this direction because
ublio opinion in the United States did
OF develop sufficiently to support such
move.
The claims drifted along until the
,cent revolution In Venezuela, when
resident Gomez. who succeeded Presi-
ent Castro, showed a more conciliatory
init and upon assuming executive
ithority notified the United States that
, was ready to resume friendly rela-
ons and endeavor to reach a settle
ent Of the claims.
The cases requiring arbitration by
o Hague court will have to be submitted
the Senate for approval before sub
ission to the court.