File No. 702.04/4.
Minister McGoodwin to
the Secretary of State.
No. 212.]
American Legation,
Caracas,
July 14, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor and the pleasure to
enclose herewith translation of a note from Doctor Manuel Diaz
Rodriguez, Minister for
[Page 1096]
Foreign Relations, informing me that the Government of Venezuela finally
has granted unrestricted and permanent permission to all salaried
consular officers of the United States of America “to visit ships of
whatever nationality bound for ports in the United States, Porto Rico
and Colon.”
It will be observed this letter states “that no other nation doing
business with Venezuelan ports now enjoys a like privilege” and that
this unusual courtesy overcoming “the difficulties presented in the Code
of Hacienda” is granted “upon the basis of reciprocity on the part of
the American authorities toward consuls of Venezuela.” Efforts have been
made to secure this privilege for many years and I would respectfully
request an expression of appreciation from the Department to convey to
the Venezuelan Foreign Office.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister McGoodwin
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to manifest
to your excellency that I have given careful attention to the
reasons advanced in your note No. 163 dated the 5th ultimo, for
permission for American Consuls at ports in Venezuela to visit
vessels of whatever nationality bound for ports of the United
States, Porto Rico and Colon.
Having heard the opinion of the Ministry of the Hacienda, to which I
hastened to communicate the data in the case, I can to-day inform
your excellency that the matter has been studied in the spirit of
the greatest cordiality towards the United States, in an effort to
overcome the difficulties presented by the Code of Hacienda; and I
have to bring to your knowledge that the Federal Executive accord
permission for the salaried Consuls maintained by the United States
of America at La Guaira, Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo to visit, in
person or by delegate, vessels of any nationality bound for ports in
the United States, Porto Rico and Colon, after such vessels shall
have effected the discharge of the merchandise destined for the
respective Venezuelan port; all this upon the basis of reciprocity
on the part of the American authorities toward Consuls of Venezuela,
and provided the officials to whom such permission is granted commit
no infraction of the fiscal laws.
It is not amiss to add, in testimony of the sentiments entertained by
my Government toward the United States of America, that no other
nation doing business with Venezuelan ports now enjoys a like
privilege to that accorded to-day to the American Consuls.
I have [etc.]
