Mr. Adee to Mr.
Partridge.
Department
of State,
Washington, August 1,
1893.
No. 50.]
Sir: Referring to your No. 58, of the 10th ultimo,
reporting the decree of the Venezuelan Government closing to commerce all
the mouths of the Orinoco River except the Boca Grande, I inclose a copy of
a letter dated the 29th ultimo from John H. Dialogue & Son, of Camden,
N. J., complaining that the decree will work hardship to them inasmuch as,
acting on the assurances given by the Venezuelan minister of foreign
relations to our legation in 1891 that all the mouths of the river were open
to commerce, they built a vessel for the trade which is unfit to navigate
the Boca Grande.
You will see whether anything can be property done to remedy this apparent
case of hardship.
I am, &c.,
Alvey A. Adee.
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure in No. 50.]
Massrs. John H. Dialogue &
Son to Mr. Gresham.
Camden,
N. J.,
July 29, 1893.
[Received July 31.]
Dear Sir: We have your favor of 26th to hand,
all of which is noted; in reply would state that we regret very much the
action of the Venezuelan Government in the matter of the decree of July
1st, affecting the navigation of the Orinoco River; we would state, that
the vessel in which we have taken such an interest and which we built in
our yard, was built especially for the navigation of the Orinoco River
through the mouths adjacent to Port of Spain, and the vessel is utterly
unfit to navigate the principal mouth, and there is no possible way of
altering her to make her suitable for such navigation; this steamer was
built with the assurance of the Venezuelan Government, that these mouths
Would be open to navigation by American vessels, contained in the
Department’s letter of January 11th, to you, copy of which
[Page 736]
has been sent us. We trust you
will use the offices of your Department to have the Venezuelan
Government modify this order, at least to the extent of permitting
American vessels already built to navigate the bayous adjacent to Port
of Spain, as in the event of this decree being fully enforced after
December 31st there will be much loss connected with the building of
this steamer, as it is practically impossible to take her from the trade
in which she is engaged.
Very respectfully,
John H. Dialogue & Son.
