Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-29
ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS.
CONGRESS TRIAL
OF CASTRO CASE

Washington, Jan 29.-An explosion
is impending IN congress over the
case Of Cen Cipriano Castro, former
president Of Venezuela, whose depor-
tation is insisted on by the state de-
partment,
A resolution will be introduced in
the house soon, calling on the secre-
tary Of state for all the information
10 connection with action in causing
European governments to keep Cas-
tro out Of the western hemisphere,
and in moving to exclude him from
the United States.
The state department will be en-
barrassed in making its reply by the
necessity Of transmitting some recent
correspondence with Venezuela 1t
appears the department sought to
strengthen its hand by asking Vene-
zuela TO make a formal request for
the dictator's deportation from New
York but the Caracas government re-
piled the matter was one of domestic
/ concern to the United States and
that It had no opinion to express.
This attitude was unexpected from
government which has been kept in
/ power largely as a result Of the &C
/ tivity of the United States in prevent
/ ing the former president from return
/ ing to his native land
In refusing to aid the Taft admins
| tration, the authorities In Caracas
were actuated by consideration of the
! probability that interference against
1 Castro would tend to increase his mar
/ tyrdom and make friends OF his erst-
while enemies.
Gen. Gomez, the president, does not
intend to take any step which is like
ly to increase Castro's popularity, and
he prefers to have the United States
draw his chestnuts out of the fire
The administration thus has been
forced to rely on such evidence as 1t
can get from Castro himself 1t had
believed It would be possible to ex-
clude him on the ground that he was
physically i'll. But he is in perfect
health.
Castro is a revolutionist but not an
anarchist, so that it. is impossible to
dely him admission on that ground.
He 10 not a pauDer or q polygamist
Nor has Castro been convicted Of
any crime, though he has been exam
ined with the greatest zeal by the i'm
migration officials to induce him to ad-
NIT he was responsible for the mur-
der OF Gen. Paredes. Castro has re-
fused to commit himself as the immi-
grafton officials would like.
1t was at the request Of the United
States that England, France and 9th
er countries took steps to prevent Cas-
tro from landing in any of the West
Indian islands. II Castro should be
allowed admission at New York the
authorities would have to permit his
entry into Porto Rico or the Panama
canal zone. both Of which are com
paratively near Venezuela.
1t is becoming apparent to the off,
cials here that Castro has developed
into the hot end of a poker. Had he
been granted admission to New York
, it would have been an easy matter to
keep track Of him, and secret service
, men could have advised the govern
ment whether heSYas engaged IN .
revolutionary plot Ur not.
: In Europe this is somewhat different
although American consuls under the
instructions given them have lain
awake nights watching the trouble
maker Of the Andes.
!. When the Wilson administration be,
{ gins 1t is probable the espionage o.
J Castro and former President Zelaya
I who was ousted from power in Mica
D ragua and forced to seek refuge II
3 Europe, will cease. The democratic
{ policy undoubtedly will be To let tn,
= governments OF Latin America worl
s out their own salvation.
g Guilty as Castro and Zelaya are O
s many practices abhorrent to civiliza
Q ton and humanity, it is q fact tha
there Is growing resentment amonl
Latin Americans at the conduct Of the
United States with respect to them
The policy OF this government sAvorl
too much OF interference with the ma
\ tional affairs OF states south OF the Ri,
\ Grande.
The exercise Of police power, II 4
feared. viii be followed by the exer
n else Of other powers Of sovereignty
v and the continuance Of the Knox POI
k icy, 1t is argued. viii lead to a condt
d ton where the United States vii
4 deem it eXpedient to occupy Latil
s American territory. Most Of the Soutl
e Americans would prefer 70 have thi
Il government sttead TO its own affair
r and let the other nations Of this hen
isphere do the same thing.