Mr. Bowen to Mr. Hay.
Caracas, Venezuela, May 4, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the receipt, day before yesterday, of your delayed cablegram of the 25th of April, I called on the minister for foreign affairs, and told him that my Government protests against the views of the Venezuelan Government in regard to the Viking matter, on the ground that they are contrary to international law, and requests that the Venezuelan consul be directed to give clearance papers to the ship, or that those of the American consul be respected.
The minister replied that his Government had protested against the act of the American consul in giving papers to the Viking, and that he is awaiting your answer. He seemed to think our consul had acted not only irregularly but illegally. I did not discuss the question with him, as our consul in Trinidad is not under my jurisdiction or supervision, but I expressed the hope and belief that you would give the protest your careful consideration and would answer it promptly.
I then asked him what objection he had to ordering the Venezuelan consul to furnish the Viking with clearance papers. He answered that his Government has no custom officers at present at Caño Colorado, and that President Castro fears that if papers are given to the Viking the supplies she carries will be seized by the revolutionists, and that the Viking will thus serve as an agent of the revolution. I replied—
That view is erroneous. If the revolutionists seize the provisions on the Viking they will be committing a hostile and depredatory act that will serve to induce my Government to take into consideration the advisability of using force to compel the revolutionists to respect our flag, and, consequently, your Government, instead of losing anything, would derive a very considerable benefit by complying with our request.
I then suggested that the Venezuelan consul be directed to issue clearance papers to the Viking, with the understanding that only provisions be carried on her to the asphalt mines, and that the said consul be instructed to visit the Viking at both the beginning and the end of her round trip, in order that he might satisfy himself that the said understanding was being carried out in good faith. I then hinted that if the Venezuelan Government does not comply with our request I could not be expected to try to induce my Government not to take such steps as it may deem necessary to see that the men at the asphalt mine are properly supplied with provisions. The minister said that he would confer with President Castro and let me know his decision early in the morning. Faithful to his promise, he called on me yesterday morning before breakfast and said:
President Castro is willing, out of respect to you and your Government, to accede to your request, and I will send to you to-day a letter (a translation of which is herein inclosed) which you may yourself forward to the Venezuelan consul.
I thanked the minister, and told him that I hoped the arrangement would prove entirely satisfactory to my Government.
This morning I received your two delayed cablegrams, suggesting substantially the same plan as the one I had proposed, as above indicated, and in answer to them I have just sent to you a cablegram stating that the matter has been arranged.
I am, etc.,