New-York tribune., 1911-02-28
VENEZUELAN HOSTILITY
TO UNITED STATES
Matos, Foreign Minister, Said TO
Thwart Efforts for Closer
Trade Relations.
CONSISTENT ANTI.AMERlCAN
Forming Federation of Republics
Which May Further Separate
Them from This Country
Has Confidence of Gomez.


caracas. Venezuela. Feb. 2o-'No
American can get anything from the
government OF Venezuela" This was
.he surprising statement that was made
70 me recently by a leading English resi-
dent Of Caracas in the course Of q dis
cussion Of the opportunities which
Venezuela affords for the extension OF
American trade and the investment or
American capital IL is the fact that
~. railway companies here represent
English and German capital, the tram
usy and telephone enterprises Of Caracas
are English; the corporation which owns
.re docks and warehouses Of Lagusyra
has its headquarters in London, the re-
friEerated meat company at Puerto ca
hello is likewise British. And so one
might 20 through all the list of foreign
enterprises in this country, and the sole
representative OF American enterprise Is
the New York and Berrnudez Company.
q branch Of the Asphalt Trust. which
owns and operates the celebrated pitch
lske AZ Gusnaco. on the east coast.
In view Of The fact that Venezuela lies
SO near 10 the United States. with di-
rect weekly communication by regular
lines Of steamships. and that between
the two countries there are now no un-
settled diplomatic differences such az
exist between Venezuela and France.
Great Britain and Holland. there seemed
70 me- 70 be an excellent opportunity for
NIL in,
public Of American capital and for a
development of international trade be-
tween the two countries such as the
State Department Is now actively seek
ing 70 develop with Latin-America gen-
orally ] therefore set about ascertain
ing the true conditions and what basis
existed for the reports coming 10 me
that American capital and American en-
terprise are not welcomed in Venezuela
speedily found abundant justification
for such an impression. In the leading
journals Of Caracas. such as "El
Tempo and "El Universal hardly a
day passes without the appearance Of
articles with such significant headlines
IS "El Peligro Yanqui'' "EI Coloso del
Norts." FL Imperialismo Yanqui"-
The Yankee Danger" The Colossus of
the North" Yankee Imperialism. ." etc
articles harping on the alleged grasp-
irg and ambitious policy Of the United
states toward the Latin-American ooun
tries: on its deliberate purpose either n
dominate or 70 absorb the weaker neigh
ha H.,
venezuelan government solcitously 10
protect 'nuestra soberania' C'our soy
ereicntv'D against the imminent danger.
.s- Cause of Anti American FEELING.
In view Of the earnestness shown hv
Secretary Roo, in cultivsting relations Of
friendship and confidence with the ma
tons Of South America. and Of the equal
soli-itude Of his successor. Secretary
Knox. 70 impress them with the sincerity
of our efforts 10 cultivate mutually bene-
fcisl relations of trade and commerce.
and Of the further fact that the entire
history Of Tenezuelan-Am AmeriCan lnterna-
tional relations has been one Of friend
ship and good will il was evident that
NJ basis existed for this anti American
feeling in either the attitude or conduct
ot the United States government The
resson. then. II such existed was to b.
sought here. and here speedily To-
Gated II
The press Of Venezuela, though nonli-
raUy free. is in reality under the most
~Tid scrutiny on the part of the gov
eminent II 2 paper prints an article
even in mild criticism of A governmental
Volicv. or which expresses views a. sll
distasteful 70 the authorities. ~ is hla
- be sun1marilv suppressed and its pub
Usher and editor imprisoned II is.
therefore. 2 condition Of life with the
Caracas press 10 b. on good terms with
the government. and y is its constant
study 70 know the plans. wishes and poll
cies ot the government and 70 win Off
cal approval b. commencing and ex-
tollins these 70 the uttermost
Ir al matters relating 10 the foreign
affairs of Venezuela the press takes its
-ye from the Ministry or Foreign AZ
fairs and its utterances upon interns-
thA Foreign Minister Here. then. lies
TIE explanation Of the opinion of my
English friend ~ the opening Of this let
ts--snd ~ the unfriendly articles appear
'ns IN the Caracas press The present
Foreign Minister Of General Gomez =
ecvernnlent rs General Manuel Antonio
Natos. and he is 2 thoroughgoing and
consistent anti Yankee While II is not
believed that his dislike ~ the Amert-
cans is shared by the President General
Gomez. vet Natos unquestionably eXerts
great influence IN the President coun
sels and N the a ahinst he is the head
of 2 clioue If ministers who are strongly
cprcsed 20 any strengthening of the re
lstions between Venezuela and the
United States
Ms.os Generally n'sliksd
.wstos was appointed Foreign Minis
ter upon the reorganization Of the Cabi-
ret after Gomez's election, in April Of
lsst year Everybody wondered At his
election for in Caracas ne is generally
disliked for his foreign airs and assump
ton If superiority. II VIII he remem-
he-ed thai he was the leader of the
.vstos revolution" Of 1903. against Cen
.raI Castro revolution which every
tody here comedies 20 have taNeo ny
| That DELIGHTFUL Sens.