Andrade Ridicules Castro Invasion.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 8, 1913:
Man from Whom Latter Took Presidency of Venezuela Is Visiting New York.
DOUBTS HIS BEING THERE
Present Minister to Cuba Says That the Exiled ex-President Has Not a Friend In the Country.
    Gen. Ignacio Andrade, who was President of Venezuela until Gen. Castro wrenched the Government from his hands in 1899, arrived here yesterday from Cuba, and his first act after registering at the Imperial was to have an interpreter read to him the newspaper dispatches from Venezuela for the last three Weeks.
    The news that his old enemy, Gen. Castro, was back in Venezuela and was fomenting a revolution distressed Gen. Andrade a great deal.
    "I cannot believe it," he said. "It is incredible. I seriously doubt if the dispatches recently printed are correct. Where Castro is I do not know, but I cannot believe he is in Venezuela.
    "It is now three weeks since I left Venezuela, and during that time I have been in Cuba, and have not had direct advices from the Government. But three weeks ago I left Venezuela with everything in a tranquil condition and not the slightest rumors even of a revolution.
    "All the trouble must be the fighting of a few barracks of roysterers. They have no money back of them and no men of influence or standing.
    "Castro? I don't think he has a friend in the country of any consequence. As President he had some servitors, but no considerable number of real friends. We do not fear Castro. He can do nothing. Next year there will be a regular election, and it will settle who is to be the next President.
    "Our people were busy when I left building roads — roads from the interior to the seaports and the stimulus for this work was furnished to us by the United States. Your Panama Canal stirred us to seek our industrial development by this road building to our ports and we are too intent on that to engage in serious revolutions.
    "President Wilson is loved by all in our country for his love of freedom and the faith he has created that he will allow our countries to flourish as free countries also. I fear that if he should throw an army into Mexico it would cast a spirit of distrust over our country toward the United States. We have regretted seeing Mexico permit domestic anarchy to the point of giving President Wilson the serious problem he faces."
    Gen. Andrade said he loved diplomacy too much to ever care to re-enter the race for the Presidency. He is now Minister Plenipotentiary from Venezuela to Cuba. His present trip to this country is on personal business, and he will return to Cuba within two weeks.