File No. 14457/8–11.
Mr. Brewer to the
Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Caracas, July 25,
1908.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on
July 20th Mr. J. H. de Reus, minister resident of the Netherlands to
Venezuela, was sent his passports by the Venezuelan Government. I so
informed the department by cable of the 21st instant.
The reason for this action on the part of the Venezuelan Government is a
communication written by Mr. de Reus to a commercial union of Amsterdam,
where it was subsequently published in the monthly bulletin of the
association, criticizing the political and commercial situation existing
in this country.
Mr. de Reus leaves on the arrival of a Dutch warship.
I enclose copy and translation of the communication from the minister for
foreign affairs of Venezuela transmitting his passports to Mr. de Reus,
together with a copy and translation of a note to the Dutch minister for
foreign affairs, which latter Mr. de Reus has returned to the foreign
office with the explanation that he is no longer a channel for
communication between the two countries.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1—Translation.]
The Venezuelan Minister for
Foreign Affairs to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
United States of Venezuela,
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
Caracas, July 20,
1908.
Your Excellency: The Supreme Magistrate of
the Republic, surprised at learning of the terms expressed in a
letter addressed by his excellency, Mr. J. H. de Reus, to the
Commercial Association “Hou’ en Trouw,” dated Caracas,
[Page 631]
April 9 of the present
year, and published in the Fijdschrift der Vereeniging Hou’ en
Trouw, No. 5, of Amsterdam, month of May last, under the heading
“Informatiebureau,” has seen the necessity of declaring Mr. de Reus
inadequate to continue serving as a friendly medium in the relations
which the Government of Venezuela cultivates with your excellency’s
Government, and, consequently, has ordered me to send Mr. de Reus
his passports in order that he may leave the country.
This measure, made indispensable by an imperious duty to guard the
national decorum, only affects the person of Mr. de Reus in his
relations with the Venezuelan Government, and in no way alters the
good understanding fortunately existing between the two countries
and which Venezuela desires to preserve in the highest grade of
cordiality, cultivating it with any other organ that may know how to
appreciate that good will and employ fit measures, as a messenger of
friendship and harmony, for the attainment of the aims of both
countries.
I have the honor, etc.,
[Inclosure
2—Translation.]
The Venezuelan Minister of
Foreign Affairs to The Netherlands
Minister.
United States of Venezuela,
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs,
Caracas, July 20,
1908.
Mr. Minister: Gen. Cipriano Castro,
Constitutional President of the Republic, being acquainted with the
views of the letter dated April 9 of the present year, addressed by
your excellency to the Commercial Association “Hou’ en Trouw,” and
published in the Fijdschrift der Vereeniging Hou’ en Trouw, No. 5 of
May last, under the heading “Informatiebureau,” fulfills his most
obvious duty in shielding the national decorum, to declare your
excellency inadequate to continue serving as a friendly medium in
the relations which Venezuela maintains with the Dutch Nation, and,
consequently, has ordered me to send to your excellency your
passports, which I accompany herewith, in order that you may leave
the country.
I also inclose you, so your excellency may please see that it reaches
the hands of his excellency the minister for foreign affairs of the
Netherlands, a note wherein my Government informs that of your
excellency of this determination.
I renew to your excellency, etc.,
