Show MAKES SERIOUS CHARGES asphalt company justnes its attempt to overthrow the venezuelan government new york allegations that high officials in the venezuelan govern ment including president castro deliberately libera tely attempted to extort from the company the sum of aro made in a statement given out sun aay by the new york bermudez asphalt company in reference to the suit brought by the venezuelan gov rement for damages tor aiding in the mates rebellion the means used by these officials according to the allegation included blackmail confiscation of the corn pany s property the manufacture of false testimony and the making of de crees without regard to law the al legations made in the statement are based upon the matters which it ts declared were received from A P carner now receiver holding the company s property tor the venezuelan government but who in 1900 was the company s agent at caracas and the representative of colonel victor M backus who was sent to vene zuela in 1900 as an independent agent by the asphalt company the statement concludes with an exhaustive review of what it describes as the as ahalt company s actual relations to the revolution in this connection it Is explained that was given to general matos by the officials of the national asphalt company on the generals re quest further sums aggregating 30 were paid the statement says to guarantee protection of the corn pany s property at a time when the territory in which the company s property is located was in the control of the revolutionists the statement maintains that the company at all times observed absolute neutrality even going to the extent of paying customs duties to both the govern ment and revolutionists when the cus torn houses were controlled by the in sur gents |