Mr. Peraza to Mr. Blaine.
Washington , May 5, 1890.
Sir: The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge with the greatest satisfaction the receipt of Your Excellency’s note of the 2d instant, whereby you were pleased to inform him that you had sent instructions by telegraph to the United States minister at London to use his good offices with the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, with a view to securing the restoration of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Great Britain, as a preliminary step towards the negotiation of an arbitration convention for the settlement of the dispute. Your Excellency added that you had authorized Mr. Lincoln to suggest to Lord Salisbury that an informal conference of the representatives of Venezuela, Great Britain, and the United States be held, either at Washington or at London, for the purpose of reaching an agreement with regard to the restoration of diplomatic relations, the attitude of the United States to be, in said conference, one of impartial friendship.
The undersigned expects the most satisfactory results from the step which Your Excellency has just taken in this important matter, for one of the circumstances that increased the difficulties of Venezuela in the conflict in which she is now engaged with Great Britain, and that which gave most encouragement to Her Majesty’s Government in its invasions of Venezuelan territory, was the belief entertained by the British Government that the United States would abandon Venezuela and would never use their fraternal mediation in her behalf.
That mediation having now been initiated by the decisive instructions sent by Your Excellency to the United States minister at London, and Great Britain being now aware that the United States are speaking not only for themselves in this matter, but that they are also voicing the fraternal desire of all the nations of the American continent, solemnly and explicitly expressed at the International American Conference, it is to be hoped that the British Government will modify its attitude and will be inclined to accept the amicable and peaceful means that are offered to it in the name of the high principles of humanity and justice for the settlement of its controversy with Venezuela.
The undersigned, being convinced of the signification and high importance of the noble step taken by Your Excellency, informed his Government [Page 786] thereof by telegraph without delay, and he has this moment received the reply of the President of Venezuela, which was sent by telegraph, and which is as follows:
Congratulations. Good for Venezuela. Thanks to Mr. Blaine.
Andueza Palacios.
The undersigned has the honor to communicate this to the Honorable Mr. Blaine, for the satisfaction of the United State s. While Venezuela was already bound to this country by the ties of traditional friendship, she is so now by those of deep gratitude.
With sentiments, etc.,