EX-PRESIDENT CASTRO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14301, 22 February 1910, Page 5

EX-PRESIDENT CASTRO.

A VENEZUELAN PLOT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—

Caracas, February 20. A plot has been discovered in Venezuela in favour of ex-President Castro, who was' deposed while on a visit to Europe, and was not permitted to return to his country. •

Many of the conspirators have been arrested.

General Castro, a native of El Tachira, one of the Andine provinces, was in the early nineties sent to tlio Federal * Senate, at Caracas, and there snubbed for his uncouth provincialism. He returned to his ranch vowing vengeance. After a brush with the tax collectors, he raised the standard of revolt, and in a few weeks was pro-, claimed President of the Andine province. Toward the end of 1898, under President Andrade, ho was callcd in by dissatisfied military leaders to bring about a revolution. This lie did, and with such success that ho was proclaimed Andrade's successor, much to the disgust of tho generals who had summoned him. The President of Venezuela has always in a general way been the owner of tho country, but no one- owned it quite so completely as Castro. He annulled most of the. concessions granted to foreigners by his predecessor, and inflicted indignities on foreign residents. As a. result, his ports were blockaded, and he, perhaps, received more ultimatums ' than any other man living. General, Gomez succeeded him as President last year in very 'dramatic circumstances.: ■ Castro went to Paris and Berlin for his health's sake, and while, he was away ' the Dutch, whom lie. had flagrantly "insulted, seized one of the vessels of the" Venezuelan navy. There was - a demonstration in Caracas in support of the Government and a counter-demonstration against it. This was General Gomez's opportunity. He assumed • the chair " provisionally," and has remained in it ever since, Castro beinc prevented from landing in Venezuela on his return. • . ■ •