File No. 731.51/35.
The Acting Secretary of
State to the American
Minister.
No. 24.]
Department of State,
Washington
,
August 31, 1912
.
Sir: With reference to your despatch No. 60,
of August 5, 1912, regarding the relations between France and Venezuela,
the Department is now enclosing, for your information, a copy of the
original and translation of the letter from the French Embassy dated
August 29, 1912.
I. am [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The French Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
French Embassy,
Washington
,
August 29, 1912
.
My Dear Mr. Secretary of State: As I had
the honor to write you on the 24th instant,1 I immediately acquainted my
Government with the substance of Mr. Elliot Northcott’s
communication enclosed in your letter of the 21st.1
In reply, the President of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs
of the Republic, tells me that he agrees to the Venezuelan courts
being first called upon to pass on all the claims preferred by
French citizens against the Government of Venezuela, but on the
express conditions that all such claims may thereafter be referred,
if desire to do so is expressed, to an arbitral tribunal the
membership of which would be determined in advance. Further, the
French Government will not consent to negotiate with any one but an
official envoy of the Venezuelan Government.
Mr. Poinearé requests me to have recourse to the Department of
State’s habitual kindness in order to have the foregoing answer
cabled to the Minister of the United States at Caracas for
transmission to the Government of President Gómez.
Be pleased [etc.]
E. de Peretti de la Rocca.
