Mr. Loomis to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, March 9,
1901.
No. 574.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a letter from the United States consul at La Guaira, with the
inclosures which accompanied the letter. Consul Goldschmidt sends copies
of several receiptsb
obtained by Mr. Balz in return for forced loans which he was required to
pay to local authorities.
[Page 537]
There is also inclosed a statement from Mr. Balz, forwarded through
Lieutenant-Commander Sargent, commanding the U. S. S. Scorpion.
Kindly return the copies of the receipts, with instructions as to what
steps are to be taken with reference to them.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Goldschmidt
to Mr. Loomis.
Consulate of the United States,
La Guaira, February 22, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose statements
from I. H. Balz, esq., United States consular agent at Barcelona,
which said agent sent me in writing through Commander Sargent, of
the Scorpion.
According to this and to the verbal statement to Commander Sargent,
Mr. Balz has not received any apology for his arrest.
This is to be regretted, and I hope that it may not be allowed to
pass by our Government without notice, for if such things are
permitted, who knows who the next consular officer will be to suffer
such indignities at the hands of Venezuelan officials.
I also forward to you copies of vouchers forwarded to me about a week
ago for forcible loans which he had to contribute in the past.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Report received from I. H. Balz, February 22,
1901, through Commander Sargent, U. S. S.
“Scorpion.”
That on the the 22d of October, 1900, about 12 o’clock m., the
magistrate of the town came into my store, informing me that the
president of the state wished to see me.
I asked him if it was possible to wait until after breakfast. He told
me that the matter was urgent. I then complied with his request by
following him immediately. When I got about six paces from my store,
he told me that I was a prisoner by the order of his superior. I
told him that it was a mistake, and that he should permit me to
speak to the president, which was allowed afterwards. When I arrived
at the president’s house, he told me that he had received orders
from the President of the Republic for my arrest without
communication. I told him, as I stated above, that it was an error,
and at once I asked the cause. He answered me that he was ignorant
of the circumstance.
The president of state wired to the Caracas Government that his
orders had been carried out, and at the same time, to bring to light
the particulars of said case. I then asked to be allowed to remain
at my house until things were being justified, but I was refused. He
(the secretary) decided that as the President of the Republic
ordered my arrest, I must be a prisoner.
I was then taken as a prisoner to the commandant’s house, where I
remained in custody without communication for a period of twenty-one
hours, after which time I was released from prison without an
apology, with only an intimation from the president of the state
that it was a mistake.
