Excerpt from Town Talk, 1905, Vol. 13

When we rushed to the protection of Venezuela some time ago, and flaunted the Monroe Doctrine in the face of Emperor William for the purpose of impressing him with the importance of going slow in the debt collection busi ness, we felt that the delinquent South American republic would be forever grateful. N ow it appears that when we interposed in that little quarrel we assumed a responsibil ity that is likely to give us considerable trouble, and result in our incurring the enmity of the people whom we safe guarded from William's mailed fist. The fiscal affairs of Venezuela are in a deplorable condition. The receipts of customs have fallen far below the estimates, and the pay ment of installments to the allied Powers has been post poned. It is suspected that there has been some juggling with the customs to make it appear that the income of the Government is less than was estimated. Consequently the creditors Germany, England and Italy, are growing impatient, and it looks as though the failure of Venezuela to keep her' agreement might leave no alternative to the United States, in order to prevent the use of force by European powers, than to undertake the task of bringing the delinquent to terms. The Venezuelans are beginning to act as though they expect trouble with this country, and have recently assumed an attitude indicative of a feeling of bitterness and suspicion. American Minister Bowen has lately been treated with scant courtesy by President Castro, who is evidently a spectacular demagogue, and no heed has been paid to the request of this Government to speedily settle the asphalt controversy involving American inter ests. Castro has been planting some big guns at two ports, a circumstance that suggests the probability of his making preparations for stem resistance, so the State De partment is becoming a little worried. Those South Amer ican republics never have'had a great deal of respect for this country, and there seems to be but one way to inspire them with a sense of the deference due.

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