Minister Russell to the Secretary of State .
(Mr. Russell reports that Mr. Root’s telegram of the 6th [5th] of February reached Caracas on the 10th, via Trinidad, and a duplicate arrived in La Guaira via Curacao on the morning of the 12th. He says he had a conference with the minister for foreign affairs this morning, and the minister told him that the question in regard to vessels clearing from France to Venezuelan ports is the same as that of vessels formerly from Curasao to Venezuela; that is, if said vessels do not have their papers duly signed by Venezuelan consuls they can not enter Venezuelan ports, according to the consular regulations. He says this is an official statement from the Venezuelan minister for foreign affairs.)