PRESIDENT CASTRO’S ANTECEDENTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 69 (Supplement)

PRESIDENT CASTRO’S ANTECEDENTS

THE OWNERSHIP OF PATOS ISLAND. (From Hi© ‘‘Daily Chronicle’s” Correspondent.) PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad), Dec. 5 The telegrams received here through the West India and Panama Telegraph Company this morning confirm the statement that England and Germany have entered into an arrangement to take united action with respect to their several claims against the Republic of Venezuela. For many years the state of affairs in Venezuela has been so utterly lawless that, apparently, European nations liavo been unable to- believe the stories of violence and robbery committed by Venezuelans under the aegis of either their Government or their Revolution. British subjects -have suffered mostly at. the hands of the Government. President Castro has never forgiven the Government of Trinidad for having, when Sir Hubert Jemingham was Governor of the colony, prohibited the exportation of arms to him as a return for the abolition of the iniquitous thirty per cent, differential duty against Trinidad trade to the Main promised by President Andrade. Castro was then the rebel, and President Andrade held the reins of government. But Trinidad never enjoyed tho promised concession, for before Congress could meet, to give practical effect to it Andrade was flying to Curacao with, incidentally, all the cash of the Venezuelan Treasury in his possession. With a touch of humour he sent back to Castro the gunboat on which he escaped as ho “thought Castro, might want it .himself some day.” Trinidad had backed the wrong horse, and Castro never forgot it, nor the fact that Matos engineered the preliminaries of liis revolution from Trinidad. THE BAN RIGH.

After Andrade’s flight, Castro entered Caracas in triumph, and established his Government, only to have it almost immediately threatened, first by ITerbandez and then by Matos, who opened his campaign on the famous Ban High. It will be remembered that the Ban High was seized in the London Docks when laden with arms and ammunition, on the suspicion that she was going to' help the Boers. However, she was allowed to proceed, on the statement of the Colombian authorities in London that the vessel belonged to their Government, and was intended for use against their revolution in Colombia. In reality the Ban High belonged to Matos, who has been and is,.' consistently supported by the Colombian Government, out of revenge for Castro’s support of the Colombian insurgents. Not being - in a position to declare war against each other, on account of eternal dissensions, supporting each other’s rebels is the method by which the two neighbouring Republics carry on a long-standing quarrel, Tlie method is not altogether unprecedented, as European history shows. Unfortunately for Matos, the Ban Righ could not be used for some months after her arrival in Port of Spain Harbour, on account of the unsafe condi-

tion of her boilers, and Castro’s navy of gunboats watched her so closely that it was thought sue would never get away, even after new boilers were imported and put in. But, at last, she escaped their surveillance. However, Matos has been unable to make much use of her, as the navy of Castro has remained faithful, and has always been in overpowering strength, and she is now again nestling nncler tho flag of Colombia, after a brief career as a pirate. PATOS ISLAND. But as was the Ban High, m this respect, so is the navy of Castro, for his gunboats, in reality, are nothing hut privateers. On, one occasion they landed on Patos. an island under tiie Government of Trinidad commanding the entrance to tho Bocas Grand of . the Gulf of Paria, and seized some British craft there. On being asked for an explanation, the Venezuelan Government, with an impudence worthy of a better case, replied that the island of Patos belonged to them. A poor excuse is hotter than none, but it happened that Patos has belonged to Trinidad since the taking of the colony by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, when it was owned by tho illustrious Cabildo-. who were succeeded by the Borough Council of Port of Spain. The British have as clear and indisputable a title to Palos as they have to Trinidad itself. This is the true story of the “Patos Affa.ir,” over which the American “yellow” journals went hysterical, and gave the highly-coloured reports cf the case from Venezuelan sources such noadlines as “British Robbery,” “Land Grab by John Bull.” etc., calling upon the American nation to put a stop to such enormities under the shadow of the Monroe Doctrine. Castro’s navy has shown a singular contempt for British interests or subjects since then, probably encouraged by this bombast, which of course is copied into-the Caracas paper?.

THE BLOCKADE OF BOLIVAR. But at last England seems to- have awakened to a sense of her responsibility to. British subjects in these waters. iT.M.S. Indefatigable left on a secret mission for La Guayra two days ago, and H.M.S. Fantomo has been up the Orinoco to Bolivar to see how the laud lies there. Commander ITibbert, of the Fantome, returned to Port of Spain and reported that the situation could not be more-grave than it is. The Fantomo has therefore been, sent back to. guard over British subjects on the Orinoco., and the United States steamer Marietta has gone on a similar errand to protect the subjects of her own and other nations. Castro has declared Bolivar to be blockaded by his fleet, but this the nations refuse to recognise, and it is not for a moment supposed that his navy will attempt to. enforce the blockade. Bolivar is, nominally, in the. hands of the Revolutionists, and a large force of Government troops are marching to attack it. But the commander of the town, General Farraros, has really cast off his allegiance to Matos, and declares that ho will yield the town to neither side. He has set up a party of his own, which he calls the “Independent Party,” so the struggle in Venezuela ha’s suddenly become a threecornered affair. Bolivar was bombarded by Castro’s navy the other day, but without very much damage being done, as his gunners are not noted for their straight shooting, and failed totake the town, after wasting a few thousand projectiles. But it is not at all unlikely that the town will be sacked by the land forces of Castro before this reaches England, unless of course the Fantome and Marietta interfere to prevent it. It is hard to say what will he the ultimate outcome of the situation. Both the Government and the Revolutionary forces seem to he in a pretty bad way in spite of the daily reports of great victories which both sides claim. PRESIDENT AND BANDIT.

But even if the Revolutionary party are successful, it is not likely that

Matcs wilL be allowed to become President. Ho is not a strong enough man for the situation; is too much the cultured gentleman for the bands of ruffians whom lie attempts ineffectually to control, and it is pretty well known that ho has been but a cat’s-paw all through. He is immensely wealthy, and the Revolutionary party wanted his money for sinews of war. They must have spent a good deal of his millions, but he will not bo President, even if they win, which is doubtful. He will be, quietly if possible, but forcibly if not possible, put aside in favour of one of the other Revolutionary generals, probably Rolando. It needs a strong hand to rule in Venezuela, and Castro has only reigned so long because he has the “mailed fist.” Although, he is but half white, being half Indian (Andino), and has many of the worst characteristics of' both races, he makes (perhaps ou that account) an admirable bandit chieftain. And the bandits rule at present in this rich but unhappy country. Warships of many nations are beginning to arrive in Port of Spain, and, in the Gulf of Paria, off the coast of Trinidad, opposite to the famous Pitch Lake, .there now lie about forty ships of the American i&avy, waiting for Admiral Dewey to

reach these waters to take charge of tho extensive manoeuvres in which they are preparing to participate. Whether this demonstration has any political significance or not no. one knows, but it is thought not. The only hope here is that, come how i z may and through whom it may, this Venezuelan reign of terror will be put a stop to.