No. 746.
Señor Camacho to Mr. Blaine.
New York , August 23, 1881. (Received August 25.)
Excellency: The steamer Caracas, which arrived yesterday afternoon from Laguayra, has brought advices from my government which I hasten to bring to your excellency’s knowledge.
Referring to the gratifying interview which I had the honor to hold with your excellency in the presence of the honorable Assistant Secretary Hitt, on the 22d of July last, and in which your excellency was so kindly pleased to read to me your reply to Mr. St. Hilaire touching the [Page 1222] matters between France and Venezuela, the minister of foreign relations says that, having given an account thereof to the President, his excellency finds that in point of fact the reply, an extract whereof I communicated to the ministry, and which your excellency was pleased to confirm in your note of the 3d instant, shows a cordial disposition on the part of the Government of the Great Republic towards Venezuela.
Carefully considered, not only does it improve the course of the negotiation, but to a certain extent it marks a progressive change which promises to be transcendental.
The offer is not now of great importance, but it is still an offer of good offices for which the French ministry confines itself to giving thanks.
It is in fact the association of the Government of Washington with the question in person, and as though making it its own.
It (the Government of Washington) assumes its true character of a creditor government, it asserts the equality of its debt with that of France, denying to the latter any special privilege, and on the footing of an interested party it reasons with justice against coercive designs, and proceeds to propose as a party to the question conciliatory measures, the success of which is in the highst degree of interest to Venezuela.
The negotiations being established on this basis, the Government of Washington not only appears as a mediator, but as a party in interest in that negotiation, and knowing the dignity of this government and of this great people, and their high standing in all matters of international relations, it can scarcely be conceived that by reason of tenacious and capricious insistence of the French ministry the Government of Washington would return to an attitude of assenting silence in forgetfulness of the principles and rights which it has already enunciated, and, perhaps, say so, abandoning those principles and rights to the mercy of a contentious party.
In view of these considerations, the illustrious American President deems that a great step forward has been taken in the negotiation to the extent of permitting the attitude of this enlightened government to be regarded as almost decisive, especially as much may be expected from the time which elapses between these declarations and the inauguration of any aggressive action which France may propose, and which the Government of Venezuela has serious cause to anticipate, as well as the immortal land of Washington.
The minister of foreign relations of Venezuela, considering thereupon the conditions proposed in case of a failure of payment, which failure will assuredly not be incurred by the present administration, although for the future he does not consider it as impossible, as in the case of succeeding administrations, says to me that the negotiations being opened, and having unlimited confidence with regard to the wisdom and high influence and the genuine good friendship of the government of your excellency, the latter (government) is tacitly authorized to choose terms for the settlement, consulting its rights, its friendly sentiments, and, naturally, the rights and the ability of Venezuela, as well as its dignity, inasmuch as all this has been confided to it; and, assuming that the government of your excellency, in its foresight and wisdom, has deemed it indispensable to add this guarantee, our government considers that any opposition on its part would not only be a dangerous disturbance, but to a certain extent would be in contradiction of the confidence already reposed, and with the powers which, by universal usage, are considered appropriate and legitimate to a government acting as mediator.
[Page 1223]Upon many occasions, Mr. Secretary, I have said to your excellency, with frankness, that all my diplomacy was confined to stating the facts as they are, in order to insure that Venezuela and the United States should grow more and more friendly. I now take the liberty of repeating to your excellency all that I have heretofore said on my own behalf, since I am convinced that the foregoing sincere expressions of the President of Venezuela, who so warmly esteems the government of your excellency, not only confirms what I have said to your excellency so many times, but that it moreover makes manifest the blind confidence he feels by reason of the honor and good-will which have been shown towards him by your excellency’s government. To say so plainly to your excellency is my best policy.
A few days ago I had the, honor to bring to your excellency’s knowledge the proposition concerning the guarantee of security offered by the Government of Venezuela, which crossed in the journey from Caracas the proposition which your excellency sent to the French Government. I have already observed to your excellency that the proposition in question is much more exacting than that submitted through the medium of the United States legation to Mr. St. Hilaire. I have now the good fortune to be able to reveal to your excellency the inward purpose of my government, since, although the latter has not directed me to do so, it has not forbidden such a course, and it appears to me the best mode of proceeding in negotiating with men and with a government like those which it has been my good fortune to encounter in this business.
I beg, &c.