Mr. Russell to Mr. Hay.

No. 655.]

Sir: Referring to your No. 426 of July 3, 1901, in which it is stated that the Acting Secretary of the Navy in a communication to the Department of State states that he is unable to understand how the Mayflower violated any of the Venezuelan laws by entering the port of Porlamar, inasmuch as said port is open for export according to the Hacienda code, I have the honor to report that I have made this statement to the Government of Venezuela. The foreign office, replying to my note on the subject states that the law of May 15, 1882, provides that foreign men-of-war can only enter those ports that are open to foreign commerce, and that according to the Hacienda code [Page 550] the ports open to foreign commerce are La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Maracaibo, Cuidad Bolivar, and Carúpano.

The minister also adds that the Government did not complain of the Mayflower’s visiting Porlamar, but Pampatar.

I have, etc.,

William W. Russell.