Mr. Scott to Mr. Bayard.
Caracas, July 7, 1885. (Received July 21.)
Sir: You will perceive by a reference to dispatch No. 12, dated the 3d instant, that the attention of our Government was called to a revolutionary movement in Yenezuela, and also inclosure of a note from Dr. Qüenza, the minister of exterior relations, with a decree from the President of Venezuela, declaring the vessel, the steamer Justicia Nacional, a pirate.
Since writing the above dispatch a battle between the Government and the revolutionary forces has been fought at Carupano, and the latter are reported to have been defeated and routed, and have fled to the island of Margarita, of which they are in possession, and still assume a hostile attitude to this Government.
Knowing and appreciating the attitude which our Government has recently assumed in protecting the lives, liberty, and property of American citizens in the United States of Colombia and Ecuador, and being apprehensive that the rights of American citizens might be jeopardized, [Page 919] I requested an interview with Dr. Qüeuza in relation to the pending disturbance in Venezuela, which was courteously granted.
At 4 o’clock p.m. on the 7th instant, I met the minister of exterior relations, at his office, in accordance with a previous arrangement, and inquired particularly of him in regard to the progress of the revolution. He replied that he “believed that the revolution was suppressed, and that the steamer Justicia Nacional would soon be captured by his Government.”
Feeling interested and anxious about the large commercial interest which numerous citizens of the United States possessed in Maracaibo, Puerto Oabello, and La Guayra, I asked him if there was not danger of the Justicia Nacional capturing some one of these ports on the Venezuelan coast before she was taken by his Government. He replied “that there was no danger of this occurring, as all these ports had forts of sufficient armament that would easily sink this vessel if she attempted to enter any of them.”
I then asked him “if there was danger of American vessels being interfered with on the high seas by the Justicia Nacional.” He replied “there was danger of this vessel interfering with small vessels, and that he considered it advisable for the United States Government to send a ship of war to Venezuelan waters to protect American commerce.”
As far as I am able to judge or form an opinion from surrounding circumstances and transpiring events, I think it would be a precautionary act to send a United States ship of war to the Venezuelan coast, as it would be an intimation to this Government, as well as to the revolutionists, that the United States intended to protect all American interests and rights here. The wise and brave policy pursued by our Government on the Isthmus of Panama saved many lives and much property, and, recognizing that “an ounce of preventive is worth a pound of cure,” I think that a ship of war being sent down to Venezuelan waters at this juncture of political affairs in this country, might be productive of much good, and could not possibly result in any harm.
I have, &c.,