File No. 4832/31–32.
The Acting Secretary of
State to the Brazilian
Ambassador.
Department of State,
Washington, July 10,
1908.
No. 61.]
Excellency: I have the honor to inclose, with
the request that you will be good enough to transmit them to Mr. John
Brewer, who is acting as custodian of the archives of the American
Legation at Caracas, for the legation’s files, a copy of the note of
June 20, 1908, by which the Brazilian minister at Caracas informed the
Venezuelan Government that he would have charge of American interests in
Venezuela during the suspension of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Venezuela, and a copy of the Venezuelan Government’s
reply thereto under date of June 22, 1908.
I beg to request that you will inform Mr. Brewer that his consular
functions have been suspended, and that he will regard himself as merely
custodian of the archives under the friendly supervision of the
Brazilian representative.
I trust that there may be no inconvenience in displaying the Brazilian
flag over the American Legation building, if it should become necessary
or desirable to display a flag.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
The Brazilian Chargé
to the Venezuelan Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
Legation of the United States of Brazil,
Caracas, June 20, 1908.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that the chargé d’affaires of the United States of
America having advised me in a note dated
[Page 827]
to-day that he has requested his passports
from the Government, I have this day assumed charge of American
interests during the rupture of friendly relations between the two
countries I have also been intrusted with the protection and care of
the archives and of the American Legation building which have been
placed until further orders under the charge of the American
consular agent, Mr. John Brewer, who will continue to reside in the
aforesaid building.
In the name of my Government I express to your excellency its great
regret at this event and its most ardent wish to see the present
difficulties amicably arranged in the briefest possible time.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your excellency,
etc.
Luiz R. de Lorena
Ferreira.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Venezuelan Minister for
Foreign Affairs to the Brazilian
Chargé.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Caracas, June 22, 1908.
No. 731.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your honor’s polite note of the 20th instant, and
referring to its contents, which have also been communicated to this
office by the Hon Jacob Sleeper, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the
United States of America, in a letter of the same date, my
Government takes note of the fact that the interests, property, and
archives of the American Legation in Caracas have been placed under
your honor’s charge I thank your honor in the name of the Government
of Venezuela for the wishes which you express in regard thereto.
I avail myself, etc.,
