Mr. Loomis to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, November 23,
1899.
No. 356.]Sir: I cabled you on Monday, November 20, that
I had entered into relations with the de facto government of General
Castro. I told General Castro, during the course of the interview I had
with him early Monday afternoon, that I was ready to enter into
relations with his de facto government and that he could consider that
those relations had commenced.
The next morning I sent a note to the minister of foreign affairs, former
President Andueza Palacio, a copy of which, with his answer and the
translation thereof, I inclose.
The Castro government was recognized as a de facto government on Saturday
last, November 18, by Her Britannic Majesty’s Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Loomis to
Mr. Palacio.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, November 21, 1899.
Sir: I beg leave to acknowlege the receipt
of your excellency’s very polite note of October 24, with
inclosures, in which I am courteously informed that General Castro
is in possession of the executive power and that he has an organized
government exercising its functions throughout the Republic.
It gives me great pleasure to say that I have been authorized to
enter into official relations with the de facto government of
General Castro, and I venture to express the confident belief that
the very agreeable and cordial intercourse which has existed between
the Government of the United States and the Government of Venezuela
will be continued and strengthened through the medium of the
diplomatic association which I hope to have with your excellency and
his government.
I take this opportunity to assure your excellency of my most
distinguished consideration.
Mr. Palacio to
Mr. Loomis.
[Translation.]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of
Venezuela,
Caracas, November 21,
1899.
Mr. Minister: I have just informed Gen.
Cipriano Castro of the contents of the polite note of your
excellency, in which you state that you have this day received
[Page 812]
authority to enter into
official relations with the government over which he is presiding as
supreme chief of the Republic.
General Castro has been extremely pleased to learn of the cordial
expressions of good will which mark the first official communication
to the new Venezuelan Government from the Government of the United
States, a Republic bound to ours by such natural ties.
It is also a source of extreme satisfaction for me to know that your
excellency’s aim in the future will be that all official intercourse
with the ministry under my charge shall be pleasant and harmonious,
and to attain this end I myself shall ever earnestly strive.
I avail myself with the greatest pleasure of this occasion to renew
to your excellency the assurances of my most distinguished
consideration.
