No. 600.
Mr. Baker
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, October 15, 1883.
(Received November 7.)
No. 768.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 686, of date May 11th
last, inclosing a copy of my memorandum on the subject of the custody of
ships’ papers in
[Page 932]
Venezuelan ports,
and to Mr. Davis’s dispatch, numbered 231, of date June 29 last, approving
that memorandum, I have the honor to inclose herewith, first, a copy and
translation of a note from Mr. Seijas, of date 1st instant, in response to
said memorandum; second, a copy of my note; of this date in response.
I invite the reading of both these notes. It will be seen from Mr. Seijas’s
note that the matter was brought to the notice of the last legislature, and
passed “to the study of a mixed commission of finance and exterior
relations”; and that “the commissioners did not arrive at a: termination of
their charge,” on account of “the festivities of the centennial of the
Liberator “; that “such is the state in which the business is found, to
which, without doubt, course will be given in the next legislative sessions
until it reaches a conclusion.” The constitutional time for the meeting of
the next legislature, or Congress, will be the 20th of February next. I am
inclined to think that the existing law on the subject in question will be
changed.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
768.—Translation.]
Mr. Seijas to Mr.
Baker.
Caracas, October 1,
1883.
Sir: As I have verbally informed your
excellency, by the charge of the illustrious American, I brought to the
notice of the legislature, in its last sessions, the memorandum which
your excellency delivered to me in the month of May of this year, and in
which is recommended, in a friendly manner, the desire of the United
States that the present law of Venezuela touching the deposit of ships’
papers in the power of the custom-house administrations, whilst they
remain in the national ports, may be reformed. The change would consist
in ordering that such documents should remain (in the conception of
reciprocity) in the custody of the consuls of the United States, on
account of what it does toward their ships.
As soon as I brought the matter to the consideration of the Senate, it
determined to pass it to the study of a mixed commission of finance and
exterior relations. It there began the examination of the matter with my
assistance, and I furnished to the respective senators the law of the
United States, which is in force on that point. Then interfered the
festivities of the centennial of the Liberator, declared vacant days,
and, without doubt on that account, the commissioners did not arrive at
a termination of their charge. Such is the state in which the business
is found, to which, without doubt, course will be given in the next
legislative sessions, until it reaches a conclusion.
I renew, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 768.]
Mr. Baker to Mr.
Seijas.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, October 15,
1882.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of the 1st instant, in response to my
memorandum of the 10th of May last, relative to the subject of the
custody of ships’ papers in Venezuelan ports. I thank the President and
your excellency for the kind and friendly interest you have taken in the
matter; and I very greatly desire and most earnestly hope that the
reform of the existing law of the Republic on the subject, so much
desired by the Government of the United States, solicited by it in so
friendly a spirit, and grounded upon such powerful reasons, will be
found to be not only in complete harmony with every interest of
Venezuela, but also a measure of substantial progress, reflecting honor
upon the Government adopting it.
I avail, &c.,
