Mr. Loomis to Mr. Hay.
Caracas, April 7, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I had a long talk with the minister of foreign affairs a fews days ago concerning the Balz case. He showed no disposition to take a view different from the one already [Page 538] entertained by his Government, and argued for halt an hour that as Balz was a consular officer he had no right to protection of a special character. I said I did not care to go over the ground again, but that my Government was of opinion that a satisfactory apology or explanation was due, and I remarked that it was my personal notion that if no satisfaction were offered in this case it would look as though a foreign consular officer in Venezuela could in no wise count upon adequate protection from imprisonment and persecution at the hands of local military authorities. The minister said that he was not willing to admit that; and “Then,” said I, “kindly say whether it is, or is not, the intention of your Government to offer a satisfactory explanation or apology in the case of our consular agent at Barcelona.” He said he would let me know in a day or two, and yesterday he sent me word that a satisfactory apology would be offered to Mr. Balz.
I have, etc.,