Acting Secretary of State Adee to Minister Bower
Washington, July 26, 1904.
(It is represented to the Department that the Venezuelan Government has brought suit against the New York and Bermudez Company and has proceeded without any law authorizing it to dispossess the company of asphalt lake. Mr. Bowen is directed to advise the Venezuelan Government that if facts are as represented the United States Government earnestly protests against such action. He is instructed to inform Department in what court suit is brought, who is plaintiff, and communicate substance of complaint and of the orders and decree of court so far as given and the law, statute or precedents, if any, upon which suit is based. He is directed to respectfully request the Venezuelan Government to furnish this information, and to say that if the Venezuelan Government would defer seizure of the company’s property until the matter can be fully investigated by the Department the United States Government would be pleased and confidently hopes this may be done.)