No. 694.
Mr. Scott to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, July 3, 1885.
(Received July 31.)
No. 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit the following
inclosures: No. 1, note from Dr. Benjamin Qüenza, minister of exterior
relations, inclosing a decree of President Crespo in relation to the
revolutionary steamer Justicia Nacional. No. 2, decree referred to in No. 1;
No. 3, reply of Mr. Scott to Dr. Qüenza’s note of the 1st instant.
The inclosures will convey to you partially the political condition of
affairs now existing in Venezuela; and from an interview had with Dr.
Quenza, minister of exterior relations, he expressed the view that the
present revolution was of no magnitude and would soon be suppressed by his
Government.
As far as personal observations can ascertain anything, the Government in the
last ten days has been very active in enlisting troops in and around
Caracas, and large bodies of armed soldiers have already been sent to the
front with the intention of suppressing the rebellion.
Carupano seems to be the only portion of Venezuela that is in the possession
of the enemy, and the head of the revolutionary element seems to be one
General Fulgar, who is said to be in command of the steamer referred to in
inclosure No. 1.
If anything of importance should occur between now and the sailing of the
mail steamer Caracas on the 7th instant, I will communicate the same to the
State Department.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
12.—Translation.]
Dr. Qüenza to Mr.
Scott.
Sir: On the eastern coast of the republic a
revolutionary movement has appeared against the Government of the nation
and its institutions, and the President has ordered me to bring it to
the knowledge of your excellency, and to send, as I have the honor of
now doing, a copy of the official gazette containing a decree which
declares piratical the steamer which the disturbers of the public order
have called “Justicia Nacional,” and which they have taken to serve them
in effecting their predatory plans. The Government has confidence that
your excellency will efficiently co-operate in the sphere of your powers
and duties to overthrow the reckless, extravagant design resulting from
these mad and wicked aspirations.
Accept, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 12.
Translation.]
Decree of President Crespo.
The constitutional President of the United States of Venezuela,
considering, that the Venezuelans harbored in the Antilles have not
ceased to conspire against the peace of the United States of Venezuela,
even to the point of equipping a steamship of war, with which they have
skirted the coast of the Republic, dispersing and attempting to capture
the ships with which the Government guards them, and continue to do so;
and said vessel, not being commissioned by any nation, has no right to
be upon the ocean,
[Page 918]
and in
order to prevent the serious injury which such piracy, without
government of flag, may do to both national and foreign commerce,
decrees as follows:
- Article 1. The steamer which is
called the Nacional Justicia by the revolutionists who have
embarked upon her, commanded by General Venancio Pulgar, and
bound for the shores of Yenezuela, will be considered and
punished as a pirate.
- Art. 2. The said steamer may be
pursued and captured by privateers whether they belong to
Venezuela or any other nation.
- Art. 3. In case the capture shall be
made by foreign public ships or by privateers the Government of
Venezuela will make no claim to the prize, which will be ceded
to the captors with an additional reward of 50,000 bolivares, to
be adjudged them out of the public treasury.
- Art. 4. Citizens or foreigners who,
in consequence of this decree, desire to equip privateers will
request permission of the Government of the Republic conformably
to the ordinance in force.
- Art. 5. The prize will be adjudged
by the competent tribunals conformably to the existing laws of
the Republic and the provisions of this decree.
- Art. 6. The ministers of war, of
marine, of exterior relations and finance are charged with the
enforcement of this decree, and with communicating it to all
whom it may concern.
Given, signed, and sealed with the great
seal of the Federal Executive and countersigned by the ministers of
war, marine, exterior relations, and finance, at the
Federal
Palace of Caracas, on the 30th June, 1885, in
the 22d year of the law and 27th of the
federation.
JOAQUIN CRESPO.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 12.]
Mr. Scott to Dr.
Qüenza.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, July 2,
1885.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note, dated July 1, 1885, inclosing to me a copy of the
decree with reference to the steamer Justicia Nacional. I will convey
the intelligence contained, in your note to my Government at the
earliest opportunity.
Accept, &c.,
