Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1903

Mr. Meyer to Mr. Hay.

American Embassy,
Rome, January 10, 1903.

No. 223.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 221, of January 2, 1903, I beg to confirm my cable dispatch sent to you on January 7, also to inclose a copy, with translation, of the note from the minister for foreign affairs, dated January 6, the substance of which was given in the cable above referred to.

I have, etc.,

G. V. L. Meyer.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Mr. Frinetti to Mr. Meyer.

Rome, January 6, 1903.

Mr. Ambassador: In pursuance of the note which I had the honor of addressing to your excellency on the 1st of this month concerning affairs in Venezuela:

As appears from the telegram of the Secretary of State, which your excellency communicated in your note of the 1st instant, the President of Venezuela, General Castro, replying to the recent communication addressed by the Government of the United States to the four contending governments, suggested that Mr. Bowen, minister of the United States at Caracas, be authorized to assume the representation of Venezuela, and in such capacity should treat with the ambassadors of Italy, Germany, and England at Washington for a direct settlement of the controversy, or to regulate the reference of the same to the arbitration of the permanent tribunal at The Hague, or of an American republic to be chosen by common agreement.

Of the latter point, viz, of the possible arbitration by an American republic, it is of no use to busy ourselves now, since the Government of the United States in transmitting the news warned us also that it did not support this point. As regards the other points, the Government of the King is gratified that Venezuela should have recognized the justness of the claims presented by the three powers, and has no objection, as far as it is concerned, that the controversy be the object of direct negotiations at Washington between the three ambassadors and Mr. Bowen; the latter to be given sufficient power to this end by the Government of Venezuela; and in case a prompt understanding can not be reached, to limit the work of the meeting to a settlement of preliminaries for referring the controversy to the permanent court of The Hague.

Referring to its preceding declarations, the Government of the King must, both in view of the direct negotiations as well as in view of an arbitral procedure, expressly subordinate its consent to the fact that the claims of our fellow citizens be granted the same proceeding and the same treatment as the analogous claims of any other power.

I shall be grateful to your excellency if you will convey the above to the knowledge of your Government, and meanwhile I avail, etc.,

Prinetti.