Office of the Historian

Mr. Loomis to Mr. Day.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, June 11, 1898.
No. 150.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit, with translation, another decree of the Venezuelan Government upon the subject of its neutrality during the war now being waged by the United States and Spain. The decree is as it appears in the Official Gazette.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

Francis B. Loomis.
[Inclosure—Translation.]

It having already been announced that the attitude of the United States of Venezuela in the present war between the United States of America and Spain is that of strict neutrality, the constitutional President of the United States of Venezuela decrees:

  • Article 1. That all the Federal and State authorities shall exercise the strictest vigilance in their respective jurisdictions to prevent the accomplishment of any act contrary to neutrality, such as the enlistment of men, the collection of arms, the formation of clubs, the fitting out of expeditions, etc.
  • Art. 2. As to the commerce of Venezuela with the belligerents, it is limited by the prohibition to carry contraband of war, this including the transportation of correspondence and persons engaged in military service; also by the prohibition to violate established blockades when personal warning has been given by the commanders of the ships engaged in making said blockades effective.
  • § In accordance with the rules proclaimed by the belligerents, and in conformity with the treaty law of Venezuela, enemy’s goods under a neutral flag and neutral [Page 904] goods under the enemy’s flag, except contraband of war, are not liable to capture or confiscation.
  • Art. 3. Venezuelans are forbidden to take out letters of marque if the belligerents adopt this method of warfare, which neither of the two has renounced.
  • Art. 4. Venezuelans who fail to respect these obligations or who in any way take part in the hostilities shall be subject to the consequences of their conduct, in accordance with national legislation, and to the penalties imposed upon them by the offended belligerent, and can not appeal to this Government for protection.
  • Art. 5. Vessels of war of the belligerents and privateers with prizes shall hot be allowed to enter Venezuelan ports. They may, however, be allowed to enter in case of urgent necessity, after remedying which they must leave without delay.
  • Art. 6. This decree shall be communicated to those whom it may concern and be published.

Done, signed with my hand, sealed with the seal of the National Executive, and countersigned by the minister of foreign affairs, in Caracas, the 6th day of June, 1898, eighty-seventh year of the independence and fortieth of the federation.

Ignacio Andrade.

Countersigned:
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
J. Calcaño Mathieu.