CASTRO’S STORY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2677, 4 August 1913, Page 8

CASTRO’S STORY.

General Cipriano Castro, sometimes referred to as the ex-dictator of Venezuela, left for Europe the other day with about as bad an opinion of the Unitea States Government, or at least of the Taft Administration, as anybody ever held. Being held for several weeks at Ellis Island by the immigration authorities did not set well with him, and just before bidding Uncle Sam farewell he put his complaint into rather vigorous language for the New York Herald. Whether altogether true or not, his story has plenty of color of the darker sort. Wo read “Since the day 1 was kidnapped from the Touraine I have been made the object of a ridiculous farce, and have been vilely treated. I did not at that limo protest as strongly as I might have against the imprisonment, because I thought I was serving an ideal, one which would be of .service to humanity, and would redound to the credit of the American people. I did not think of myself.

“I was actually buried alive as il 1 were a great criminal. If this is the inheritance which the great Washington left, xhe American people ought v-o weep bitter tears or give up imperialism. Unless the imperialistic Government of the United States gives a satisfactory reason for such iniquitous conduct ic. stands convicted of being a tyrant and having forgotten the past glories of America. “I was insulted treacherously, I hoy even descended to crime. 1 refer to that terrific night of December 31st. After a very bad voyage of 10 days 1 was thrown into a dirty, small room, and at (5 o’clock in tho evening I threw myself on the bod and tried to sleep. Vain illusion! At a quarter-past six somebody knocked on tho door. 1 got up and opened it. In walked a man o' : about 27 or 28 years. Ho approached mo with such a menacing air that 1 did not know what to think. As 1 do not understand English 1 did not know what, ho was saying, but it appeared to me that ho was looking tor the keys of my baggage, although it had already been examined by the Custom-houso ofiicers. 1, by signs, tried to make Jam understand tins.” Finally, the General says, bo understood tiro magnitude of this aggression, 'they were trying to provoke him into committing a crime, and ho took the only stop which could save his file. To proceed ; —• “The man was walking around the room like a wild bull. 1, without showing my uneasiness iu any way, turned my back on him and lay down again on tho dirty bed which they had placed for me. The man suddenly took off bis oveicoat, threw it on the Hour, took off his coal, and finally took oil his gloves. Then ho looked at me as if he were going to strike me. 1 preserved a stoical attitude, still lying on the bed. Who was this mauf Where did ho come from at such an hour." What bad ho to do with ray baggage which had been examined time and again by the Uusiom-hom.o officersf 1 How did this man get past tho ollicial who was guarding my door? All these questions will have to bo answered in court proceedings. , . “The man, seeing my stoical attitude, put on his coat and overcoat and wont out. Ho forgot to take his gloves with him. So 1 picked them up and gave' them to tho guardian at my tloor, so that he would have no reason for '•muiiig back and bothering me. “Fifteen minutes later another knock came at the door, and a young man smaller than the other came in. He repeated the actions of his predecessor, without, however, taking oil his coal. He also spoke in English, which, of course, 1 did not understand. At 7 o'clock two other men and a woman came in and repeated the performance of the others. They all spoke ao the same time. They were all gesticulating wildly, and finally they picked tip mv baggage and left the room. 1 locked the door and said to myself: Let it bo what God wishes. “1 could not sleep all that nignt. What a terrible experience! file next morning when i opened the door 1 saw my baggage in the hall outside. Tho tragic blow which they had prepared with unequalled 1 cynicism more like highwaymen than Government officials did not succeed. “1 have kept silence until to-day because 1 understood that in that way alone could 1 save myself, being in the clutches of tho ‘Black Hand,’ which was directing tho attack upon me. in view of the grave nature or tho attempt any indiscretion on my part would have meant certain death. “I hope tho American people will appreciate these facts, which are nothing but tho truth, and 1 hope that the judicial authorities will immediately order an investigation of them. While tho American Government is responsible for these insults, the real responsibility lies with the asphalt companies of Venezuela, who have never failed to work harm for \ enezuela and for me, especially because I defended the interests which as President of Venezuela had been confided to me, ■spending large suras of money to organise the Matos revolution, in which ] conquered those enemies of juy country after two years of war.”