The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Bowen.
Washington, September 13, 1904.
Sir: I inclose for your information copies of a letter of the 9th instant from Mr. Avery D. Andrews, vice-president of the New York and Bermudez Company, and an affidavit transmitted to the Department therewith.a
It appears from the inclosure of the letter of Mr. Andrews that the statement of Mr. Steffen, who represented the company in its business with the Venezuelan consul in Philadelphia, that the consul refused to certify the papers presented to him for authentication, on the ground that a legal controversy was pending between the company and his Government, is insisted upon by the company and its attorney, notwithstanding the contention of the consul that his certificate was withheld only because he was not allowed sufficient time in which to make it.
I am, etc.,
- Not printed.↩