Mr. Partridge to Mr. Gresham.
Caracas, October 10, 1893. (Received October 20.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction No. 57, of August 24, with respect to the Venezuelan practice of requiring all ships’ papers to be deposited with the customs officials of the port. A few days since I had a conference with the minister of foreign affairs and Dr. Seijas, the legal adviser of the ministry.
The matter was new to Señor Rojas, but Dr. Seijas was minister of foreign affairs during the negotiations had by Mr. Baker in 1881 to 1884, and was thoroughly conversant with the question. He said that as minister he had once recommended the desired change, and had appeared before a committee of Congress in support of the same.
The reasons for the change were fully presented by Mr. Baker, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Scruggs, and the correspondence shows that they were tacitly admitted. Nor are the minister and Dr. Seijas disposed now to dispute the merits of our request. As the present practice, however, is established by law (Art. 44, Cap. 11, Ley xvi, Codigo de Hacienda; see p. 236, Tom. xi, Recopilación de Leyes y Decretos de Venezuela), they say it can only be changed by Congress. They were disposed to assent to my request that the matter should be urged again upon the attention of Congress at its next session in February. In the meantime nothing can be accomplished.
I have not attempted to present the matter formally or in detail, as that can be done much more effectively nearer the time of the meeting of the Congress. It can then take such form as further conferences with the minister and Dr. Seijas may suggest to be most useful.
I have, etc.,