Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1901 — SOUTH AMERICAN INGRATITUDE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SOUTH AMERICAN INGRATITUDE.

Seema Plainly Illustrated in Oar Dispute with Veuezuela. - -The reiationw-of the United States ami Venezuela have ceased to be friendly and to emphasize its displeasure with the offensive attitude of the South American republic this government has recalled its minister, Frank B. Loomis. Various pretexts are assigned for this action, but the true reason undoubtedly is that President McKinley and his advisers desired to administer an open rebuke to the Venezuelans. The affair, a Washington correspondent declares, will amount to nothing more than a “tempest in a teapot,” hut it is significant in that it shows the ingratitude of the Latin-American. Only aflrtew yqars ago this country nearly involved itself in war with Great Britaiii

in order to protect Venezuelan rights, At the first opportunity they slap us in the face. The rupture of friendship is due to a dispute over the ownership of certain asphalt property in the Laguayrc region of Venezuela. One American syndicate, the New York and Bermudez Company, paid $40,000 for a claim. After the Venezuelan government had accepted this, there was a change of administration. Gen. Castro coming to the presidency, found tlie treasury depleted. He did not hesitate, lor a consideration, to recognize the claim or the rival syndicate, the War-ner-Quiulan-Sullivan combination. Subsequently the New York-Bermudez Company was informed that upon the payment of $400,000 it coukl have the claims for which it had previously paid $40,000 without deriving any benefit. The American government took no part in the controversy, hut notified Venezuela that the

dispute should be settled in the courts. Meanwhile there* were riots iu the asphalt region in which Americans suffered personal injuries. Americans iu the large cities were ill treated in various ways and several warships were sent to Caracas as a Warning to

the Venezuelans that our government was aware of what was going on and was not indifferent. The South Americans showed their resentment of, this move tsyrefiisiug to admit consular supplies free of duty. Like action was taken by our government respecting the entrance of Venezuelan consular supplies into this country. There have been other manifestations of an unfriendly spirit, and the recall of Minister Loomis was the natural outcome. It is not to be supposed that there will be a permanent rupture of diplomatic relations. The United States government cannot afford to go to war over this matter. It would he like a big mastiff attacking a mongrel cur. But something has to be done to make the Venezuelans understand that they must maintain a more respectful attitude toward the United States.

PRESIDENT CASTRO.

MINISTER LOOMIS