Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1901 — Venezuela Again [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Venezuela Again

Venezuela must either give guarantees of security to and respect for American officials and other American citizens in that republic or respect and security will be enforced by the United Stares. This position of the United States with respect to Venezuela is pregnant with dramatic possibilities in the near future. The attitude of the United States, while pretty clearly defined, will not be officially declared until after Minister Loomis has discussed with Secretary Hay the cause of the quarrel between the two countries. Ine United States and Venezuela, although the fact is fairly well disguised at the State Department, are again on the edge of war. The international case appears to be this: Venezuela desired the recall of a Minister who was believed to be com-

mitted to the interests of the asphalt trust, and in the interest of which he put an affront on Venezeula by having a warship sent to Venezuela to settle by shot and shell an ordinary case in the civil courts. The State Department having so far indorsed Mr. Loomis, still indorses him and makes the counter claim that Venezuela is guilty of persistent outrage against American officials and citizens; that there must be a reckoning by diplomacy or otherwise. As the first step toward the chastisement of Venezuela the United States brings away the American minister on a warship. The next step is the preservation of a serious and mysterious silence which creates a position of menace toward Venezuela. The fact that Mr. Loomis has been recalled, if only temporarily, taken in

connection with the understood intention of Senor Pulido, the Venezuelan charge d’affaires in Washington, to leave soon for Caracas, indicates a condition that is exceedingly serious. When General Castro assumed the Presidency of Venezuela he found the treasury empty and the people too poor to stand further taxation. Having no other recourse than to tax foreigners doing business in the country, it is claimed he protected the Warner-Quinlan-Sullivan syndicate in an effort to take possession of the property claimed by the New York & Bermudez company. This government notified Minister Loomis is that it did not take sides with either company, but that the controversy must be settled in the courts. This may be regarded as the beginning of the serious aspects of the case.

PRESIDENT CASTRO.

MINISTER LOOMIS.

RELIEF MAP SHOWING LOCALITY OF VENEZUELA’S PITCH LAKES.