Mr. Bartleman to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, January 6, 1893.
(Received January 21.)
No. 375.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies
and translations of two decrees, dated December 30, 1892, and January 5,
1893, relating to foreign commerce.
These decrees will be very damaging to the commerce of the Dutch island of
Curaçao, as the transshipment of freight, which now takes place there for
Venezuelan ports will, after March 1 next, be made at La Guaira and Puerto
Cabello, Venezuela.
Merchandise from the United States and Europe, for Maracaibo, Coro, and other
Venezuelan ports, which shall be transshipped at the island after the above
mentioned date, will have to pay differential duty of 30 per cent, as
decreed by the law of June 4, 1883.
I have, etc.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
375.—Translation.]
United
States of Venezuela, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit,
Order of Custom-Houses,
Caracas, December 30,
1892.
Resolved, The National Executive decrees that from
the 1st of March, next, the productions, merchandise, and other articles
exported from the United States of America, or from Europe, which are
destined for the western ports in the Republic not visited by the
vessels bringing them, said goods having to be transshipped at Curaçao
in order to reach their destination, shall be considered as exported
from that island for the purpose of payment of duty of importation; and,
therefore, the executive decree of the 26th of January, 1883, referring
to transshipments in foreign colonies, is modified in this
particular.
Let it be Known and published.
For the National Executive.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
375.—Translation.]
United
States of Venezuela, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit,
Order of Custom-Houses,
Caracas, January 5,
1893.
Resolved, The productions, merchandise, and other
articles from the United States of America or from Europe which are
destined for the western ports of the Republic, and are to be
transshipped at La Guayra or Puerto Cabello in order to reach their
destination may be landed in said ports, if for want of transportation
the transshipment cannot be effected from vessel to vessel. In this case
the merchandise, together with all the consular documents from the port
of departure, shall be deposited in the stores of the custom-house,
destined exclusively for this purpose, until they can be sent to their
destination, which may be done in either national or foreign vessels in
conformity with articles 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the law xxxviii of the “Codigo de Hacienda.”
God and Federation,
