No. 735.
Mr. Baker to Mr. Blaine.
[Extract.]
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, April 20,
1881. (Received May 9.)
No. 378.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 370 and 371,
respecting the embarrassed relations of Venezuela with France, I inclose
herewith:
- 1.
- A copy and translation of a note from Mr. Seijas, of date 6th
instant. This note was accompanied by a copy of the ultimatum
presented by the chargé d’affaires of the French Republic to
this government, as also by a copy of the answer thereto, and by
a copy of a memorandum annexed to the same.
- These last two documents are so voluminous that I have so far
found it quite impracticable to transmit copies and translations
of them. This, however, can work no practical inconvenience,
since Mr. Seijas informs me that he has sent copies of these
documents to Mr. Camacho, who will, I presume, bring their
contents to the knowledge of the Department; and besides it is
sufficient for practical purposes to know that the result of
these documents is a refusal to acceed to the French
ultimatum.
- 2.
- A copy and translation of the copy of the French ultimatum of
date 30th ultimo, sent me by Mr. Seijas.
- 3.
- A copy and translation of a note from Mr. Seijas, of date 6th
instant, indicating, among other things, the proposal of this
government to deliver to the creditor governments in a certain
manner, and on a certain condition, “the entire product,
whatever it may be, of the thirteen per cent, of the forty
unities of the rent, applied by the law of the 30th of November,
1872, to the foreign claims previously recognized.”
- 4.
- A copy of the note, which I have to day sent to Mr. Seijas in
response to his two preceding notes.
My view of the matter in hand is, in substance:
- First. This country, as a country, is poor, suffering as it is
not only from the entailed consequences of past revolutions and
disorders, but now still suffering in addition, as I understand
the situation, that condition of things which we express by the
significant phrase, “hard times,” largely dependent upon the
depressed prices of its principal staple, coffee.
- Second. In the existing condition of this country, the
creditor governments ought not to exact more on account of the
claims to which 13 per cent, of 40 unities of its custom-house
revenue is dedicated than the full product of this fund; and I
think this should be paid irrespective of whether our government
consents or does not consent to receive and distribute the
payments; and the money thus paid by the Venezuelan Government
should, as a matter of course, be divided pro-rata among the
creditor governments.
- Third. It appears to me that the French ultimatum is not
wholly admissible. * * *
- Fourth. My opinion is that justice and principle, our actual
interest in the matter, and legitimate and sensible policy, all
plainly unite in prompting our government to immediately act the
part of a good, honest friend to Venezuela in her present
trouble.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
378.—Translation.]
Mr. Seijas to
Mr. Baker.
As the United States of North America are creditors of Venezuela for
claims admitted in diplomatic convention, the president of the
republic has esteemed it proper that the most excellent minister
resident of the United States of North America should receive
knowledge, for the uses which he may believe adequate to American
interests, of the ultimatum which the chargé d’affaires of the
French Republic, a creditor also in equal respect, has presented to
the government, and of the answer which this ministry has given him
(as also of the memorandum annexed to the same) in the matter of the
monthly quota of the 13 per cent, applied to the diplomatic
debt.
In consequence of the refusal of the government, Mr. de Tallenay has
requested and received to-day his passport, confiding the officious
protection of the interests of the French colony to the chargé
d’affairs of Italy.
In communicating this to the most excellent Mr. Baker, the
undersigned renews to him, &c.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
378.—Translation.]
Mr. Tallenay to
Mr. Seijas.
Legation of France in Venezuela,
Caracas, March 30, 1881.
The chargé d’affaires of the French Republic has the honor of
bringing to the knowledge of his excellency the minister of exterior
relations ad interim, that he is charged with
declaring that the Government of the French Republic finds itself
with regret, for the motives anteriorly exposed, in the
impossibility of accepting the combinations proposed by the
Venezuelan Government for the payment of the recognized French
credits in negotiable bonds (titres).
Wholly reserving in an express manner the rights resulting from the
convention of 1864 and from the arrangements of 1867–’68, the
Government of the French Republic insists on obtaining:
- 1.
- The resumption, until the extinction of the credits
recognized in 1864, 1867, and 1868, of the monthly payment
of 1873, of which the sum amounts to 5,655 dollars
(piastres).
- 2.
- The continuation of the labors of the commission
instituted in 1879 for the regulation of the pending
claims.
It offers, besides, as proof of its desires of conciliation, to apply
to the acquitment of these last the bonds (titres) proposed by the
Venezuelan administration, under the condition that the payment
(service) of them would be guaranteed by a corresponding quota of
the product of the custom-houses, of which the figure would be
ulteriorly determined by common accord.
The chargé d’affaires of the French Republic conforms himself,
moreover, to instructions of his government in praying the
Venezuelan Government to be pleased to let him know its definitive
intentions before the 6th of April next, and he profits of this
occasion to renew to his excellency Mr. R. Seijas the assurances of
his distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
378.—Translation.]
Mr. Seijas to
Mr. Baker.
The undersigned, minister of exterior relations ad
interim, has the honor of addressing himself to the most
excellent minister reside at, informing him that the announcements
[Page 1211] made to the
government by its legation at Paris have been fulfilled respecting
the purposes of the French to peremptorily exact of Venezuela the
continuation of the quota assigned to her diplomatic credits in
1873.
A copy of the ultimatum and of the response which the government has
given it accompanies, manifesting the impossibility of acceding to
the two points which it embraces.
In consequence of the denial, Señor de Tallenay retires, embarking on
board of the steamer of the French marine which is at La Guayra, and
it is possible the matter may be placed in the hands of the
commanders of some vessels of war.
It is urgent in itself that the Government of the United States
interpose immediately its good offices with the Government of the
French Republic to the end of conducting the matter to an amicable
arrangement.
To this purpose the government proposes to deliver to the creditor
governments, in place of the 80,000 bolivars which are now expended
in the payment of the monthly quotas, the entire product, whatever
it may be, of the 13 per cent, of the forty unities of the rent,
applied by the law of the 30th of November, 1872, to the foreign
claims previously recognized. But as the excess which may be each
year above the probable estimate of the fund cannot be known but at
the end of that period, it will be then when it will be paid. All
this is always understood, that the Cabinet of Washington will lend
on the occasion its good offices to Venezuela, and that it may be it
solely which intervenes in the reception of the fund.
As Mr. Baker has examined and knows the situation of the republic, he
will have convinced himself that it is not possible for it, without
prejudice to its other important obligations, to destine a greater
sum to the object; and that, doing what it does, it gives proofs of
refined good faith and high honesty.
The government hopes, then, that Mr. Baker will earnestly favor the
solicitude for the good offices of the Cabinet of Washington, which
it has already presented through the legation of this country, and
to which the most excellent Secretary of State of the new
administration shows himself favorable, according to what was said
to Señor Camacho in two conferences they had had before the 18th of
March, and of which he has given an account by the last steamer,
Augustus.
The undersigned renews, &c.,
The aforesaid is understood without prejudice of the propositions
which the government has made for the payment in bonds (titulos)
of the 3 per cent., or in debt consolidated of the 5 per cent.,
which is that which suits Venezuela and supposing they may not
be accepted.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
378.]
Mr. Baker to
Mr. Seijas.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, April 20, 1881.
Mr. Minister: I received late in the
evening of the 6th instant your excellency’s two notes of that date
(and accompanying inclosures of one of them), in further notice of
the existing relations between the Government of Venezuela and that
of France. I at once proceeded, in a proper and friendly manner, to
communicate to my government respecting the matter, by the mail
which left Caracas on the morning of the.7th instant; and I shall,
by the next going mail, and in like manner, communicate further to
my government in the same premises.
I avail myself, &c.,
