Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1898

Mr. Loomis to Mr. Sherman.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, May 2, 1898.

No. 128.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the answer of the Venezuelan Government to my note transmitting a copy of your cablegram of April 26 in reference to the existence of a state of war between the United States and Spain.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

Francis B. Loomis.

[Inclosure.]

Neutrality.—Notification by Venezuela.

The following note addressed by the Government of Venezuela to the United States minister at Caracas proclaims and defines the attitude of neutrality adopted by that country in the present conflict between the United States and Spain:

United States of Venezuela,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Caracas, April 29, 1898.

Your Excellency: With your courteous communication of the 26th instant, your excellency inclosed a copy of a telegram received the same day from His Excellency the Secretary of State, in regard to the state of war existing since the 21st of the present month between the North American Republic and the Kingdom of Spain.

Inasmuch as His Excellency the Secretary of State, in communicating the fact of the existence of war, asked you to inform this Government, to the end that its neutrality might be assured, I have the honor to inform you that this expectation on the part of the Government of the United States is in perfect accord with the intentions of the executive, to wit, that the Republic will preserve the strictest neutrality during the contest. The Government of Venezuela, through its regular channel, will to-day, likewise, inform the Spanish nation.

I renew, etc.,

J. Calcano Mathieu.

His Excellency Francis B. Loomis,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.

[Telegram received in cipher.]

Caracas, May 5, 1898. (Received 12.46 p.m.)

Sherman,
Secretary, Washington, D. C.:

Venezuela proclaimed neutrality; is very satisfactory. Legation of the United States guarded. * * * Would be of great service to telegraph victories here. General news is very hostile and worthless.

Loomis.

[Telegram.]

Caracas, May 14, 1898. (Received 1.25 p.m.)

Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:

Consul cables me four Spanish cruisers and two torpedo boats sighted off Curacao to-day.

Loomis.

[Telegram.]

Department of State,
Washington, May 14, 1898.

Loomis,
Minister, Caracas:

Ascertain immediately from consul, Curacao, number of Spanish ships, how much coal they took, and any other information.

Moore, Assistant.

[Telegram received in cipher.]

Caracas, May 15, 1898. (Received 12.13 a.m., May 16.)

Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:

Spanish war vessels will leave Curacao about 6 to-night; destination unknown.

Loomis.

[Telegram, cipher.]

United States Legation in Venezuela,
Caracas, via Haiti, May 15, 1898. (Received 15, 5.45 p.m.)

Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:

The consul at Curacao telegraphs Vizcaya and María Teresa are coaling. * * * Nothing known yet of movements. Cable later.

Loomis.

[Press telegram.]

Caracas, via Haiti (May 16, 1898).

Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:

Fleet left Curacao Sunday evening 6, steering west.

Loomis.