Show I I CLAIMS CLAI MS OF FRANCE I Ultimatum Has Not Be Ben n Presented as Yet Paris Pari March larch 21 The foreign office says the French minister at Caracas has not presented an ultimatum to Venezuela and no French warship has been sent to Venezuela The statement to that effect results from the publication publication publication tion in London newspapers of dis dispatches dispatches dispatches patches saying the presentation of an ultimatum had been followed by the dispatch of two warships The officials here are surprised and displeased at atthe atthe the th reports rep rep which they construe as tending to force the hand of or France Into a more aggressive and belligerent policy than The United States occupies the tho best position in which to send warships owing to the length of time the American controversy sy with Venezuela has been een pending whereas the tho French controversy con is of comparative recent and has not yet been decided by b the courts The Instructions sent to the French minister at Caracas directed that di diplomatic diplomatic representations be made re relative relative relative to the holding up of the vested rights lights of the cable company but did f not contemplate threats threads or 01 an ultima ultimatum I tum turn as the authorities say the affair has not gravity lJ calling for steps of such sud a warlike character Up to noon today neither the foreign office nor the cable company had received the expected decision of or the Caracas Cara court upon tile the French Cable S concession The council of ministers root mot this m and anti Foreign Minister detailed the relations rel with Morocco but hut the statement regarding the proceedings of the council Uncil e does not mention Venezuela This means that no action will be bo taken pending the re receipt receipt receipt I of information as to the Caracas courts decision There Dhere is great reluctance on the part of officiate officials to the adoption of the lat latter latter latter ter course hut but the tile situation is believed to be he su h that unless the department is willing to submit to the complete en enactment of the American claims some action must be taken very soon The reported arrangement whereby President President President dent Castro through bios lite agent Senor has agreed to set let et apart 50 per cent of all the Venezuelan customs receipts outside of ot the ports of La Guayra and Porto Cabello to satisfy German bondholders which if consummated consummated consummated mated it is feared will make it impossible to secure a single cent from Venezuela for the payment of any just American claims for there will be bo no surplus the tha remain remainIng remaining remainIng Ing 50 per cent of the revenues being heins required for the support of the Vene Venezuelan Venezuelan government |