The inclosed copy of a note I have this day addressed to Señor Camacho will
show you that this Government regards this action of Venezuela as premature,
and in contravention of existing engagements.
So long as it shall be maintained, it will impede negotiation in the sense
proposed by Congress.* * *
[Inclosure in No. 219.]
Mr. Frelinghuysen
to Mr. Camacho.
Department of State,
Washington
,
April 17,
1883.
Sir: I have the honor to invite your attention
to a recent step taken by your Government in connection with the awards
of the late Mixed Commission.
The United States minister at Caracas informs me that he has been
officially notified by the minister of foreign relations, that it is the
intention of the Government of Venezuela to suspend the payments of the
monthly quota due to the United States on account of the awards under
the treaty of 1866, pending the negotiation of an arrangement between
the two countries for the revival of the general stipulations of that
treaty and a re-examination of disputed awards.
I am surprised that such a step has been taken without consultation with
this Government. Inasmuch as the existing compacts between the two
countries remain effective until set aside by new conventional
arrangements having like force and validity with the treaty of 1866,
this Government must regard any action on the part of Venezuela to set
aside its obligations thereunder as premature and as a violation of
treaty engagements.
You are aware that many claimants whose awards have been recognized as
just by your Government have for years been deprived of what was justly
due to them by the action of your Government in impugning the good faith
of certain other awards.
You are also aware that the payments of Venezuela to the United States
have thus far fallen short of even the moderate rate of interest
stipulated in the treaty.
It is of course impossible that any new arrangement which might now be
entered into in virtue of the joint resolution of Congress of March 3,
1883, authorizing the President to propose to Venezuela the revival of
the treaty of 1866, could be effected without, recognizing the right of
the claimants to receive both principal and interest on the awards
hereafter found to be just, from the date of the original awards.
Any other arrangement would involve a hardship and wrong toward
legitimate claimants to which this Government cannot be a party.
This Government has not yet proposed to that of Venezuela the negotiation
authorized by the joint resolution. That resolution has not been
officially communicated to your Government. It remains until such time
as the President shall direct action thereunder a purely domestic act,
and formulates merely the result of a consultation N between the
executive and legislative powers of this Government.
I cannot consent, therefore, that the Government of Venezuela should
attempt to anticipate the results of a negotiation not yet opened.
It will facilitate the action of the President, contemplated by the
resolution of March 3, 1883, if your Government resumes from the point
where they have been broken off the monthly payments of Venezuela to the
United States.
Accept, &c.,