Mr. Peraza to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, April 24, 1890.
Sir: The undersigned has the honor to present his respects to the Hon. James G. Blaine, and regrets to inform him that he has this day received advices from his Government apprising him that Dr. Modesto Urbaneja, minister of the Republic in France, who visited London for the purpose of endeavoring to secure the restoration of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Great Britain, relying to this end upon the mediation of Mr. Lincoln, the United States minister, was unable to accomplish his purpose, for the reason that His Excellency Mr. Lincoln has not received the instructions which the Honorable Mr. Blaine promised to send him for that purpose during the interview in which the undersigned had the honor to speak to His Excellency on this and other subjects on the 20th of February last.
The undersigned, having again received urgent instructions from his Government to remind the Honorable Mr. Blaine of the instructions so generously promised by him, hereby does so, with the remark that the circumstances are extremely critical for Venezuela, which sees on the one hand the British forces persistently invading her territory, and on the other does not see any effective demonstration on the part of the United States Government in the way of mediation, which has been so earnestly solicited from it, and which it has so unequivocally promised.
The undersigned has informed his Government of the repeated promises made to him by the Honorable Mr. Blaine that, when once the plan of arbitration should have been adopted by the conference, the friendly steps of the United States Government near that of Great Britain would be begun, with the view of inducing the latter to consent to a peaceful settlement of the boundary question between it and Venezuela, and the undersigned consequently entertains the hope that when the Honorable Mr. Blaine shall communicate to the Cabinet of St. James the wish expressed by the International American Conference that disputes between the American republics and the nations of Europe may be settled by arbitration, that favorable opportunity may be taken by the United States Government to use its good offices to the end that the controversy may be brought to a speedy and reasonable termination by that means.
The undersigned will consider himself highly honored if the Honorable Mr. Blaine will favor him with a satisfactory reply to this note, which result is awaited by his Government with impatience and anxiety, owing to the gravity of the circumstances.
The undersigned, etc.,