No. 502.
Mr. Pile to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States of America,
Caracas, June 8, 1872.
(Received June 20.)
No. 50.]
Sir: The steamer Virginius under the United
States flag arrived at Puerto Cabello about May 16. On her arrival I was
notified by the United States consul at Puerto Cabello that the
commander of the Spanish man-of-war Arapiles threatened to capture the
Virginius and sink her. I was also informed by the minister of foreign
relations (see inclosure A) that the Venezuelan authorities had been
asked to detain the vessel. Under these circumstances I instructed the
consul as set forth in my answer to the note of Minister Guzman, (see
inclosure B.)
On the 24th of May the United States steamer Shaw unit arrived at La
Guaira from Ciudad Bolivar. Captain Potter, commanding the Shawmut,
after visiting this city and conferring with me, proceeded with the
Shawmut to Puerto Cabello, intending to convoy the Virginius to the high
seas in case she desired to depart from that port.
Mr. Manuel Quesada, who in some way represents the owners of this vessel,
is here endeavoring to negotiate a sale to the government of Venezuela.
If he succeeds, this will relieve the United States authorities from any
further trouble in protecting the Virginius. If the sale is not made and
no instructions are received from the United States in reference to the
Virginius, she will be allowed to leave Puerto Cabello upon any legal
voyage whenever her captain desires to do so, and in case she is
molested in or near the waters of Venezuela, the necessary protest will
be made and the facts reported to the Government.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure A in No. 50.—Translation.]
Mr. Guzman to Mr
Pile.
United
States of Venezuela, Ministry of Foreign Relations,
Bureau 2, No. 33,
Caracas, May 20,
1872.
Sir: By reason of the arrival of the
steamer Virginius at Puerto Cabello, Mr. Cologan, encharged ad interim of the Spanish legation, has
inclosed to me copy of a note of the commander of the Spanish
war-frigate Herona, anchored in La Guaira, with the principal object
that the government should detain or embargo the Virginius in
[Page 716]
the port in which she is
now anchored in order to prevent her departure until the maritime
squadron of his flag, that is now in the same waters, shall receive
orders and instructions from the government of Madrid on this
particular case.
Venezuela desires, as is just and regular, in all her relations with
the government of His Catholic Majesty, always to fulfill with
fidelity the treaties that bind the two governments, but in
according the detention or embargo of the Virginius, the government
ought to attend with the same spirit of loyalty to its compromises
with the Government of the United States of America; and as your
excellency has pleased to inform me in personal conference to-day
that you had already given orders and instructions to the North
American consul in Puerto Cabello, in reference to the detention and
departure of the Virginius, in her quality as a ship under the
American flag, it is my duty to direct this note to your excellency,
to prevent all collision between the resolutions of the government
and the orders which your excellency has given, avoiding in this
manner all contradiction from which a question could arise with the
Government of your excellency, whose friendship this republic
appreciates as much as it owes to that of His Catholic Majesty.
I hope that your excellency in reciprocity to these sentiments will
please inform me of these orders and instructions which will be the
expression of your views in the matter.
Accept, your excellency, the protestation of my most high
consideration.
[Inclosure B in No. 50.]
Mr. Pile to Mr.
Guzman.
Legation of the United States of America,
Caracas, May 20, 1872.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the note of your excellency of this date, stating that in
consequence of the arrival of the steamer Virginius at Puerto
Cabello, and certain representations made to your excellency by the
commandante de la fragrata Espanola la Gerona, and Mr. Cologan, in
charge of the Spanish legation, in reference to said steamer, and in
order to avoid all collision between the government of Venezuela and
any instructions I may have given to the consul of the above-named
port, your excellency is pleased to ask to be informed of the
character of such orders and instructions.
In reply I have the honor to state that the United States consul at
said port reports to me that the Virginius is an American steamer,
with all her papers in perfect and legal order, and he is
consequently instructed as follows:
- 1st.
- That in case any attempt is made to capture her at that
port, or within Venezuelan waters, he is to protest against
such attempt and ask the protection of the authorities,
civil and military, at that port for said steamer.
- 2d.
- That if the said steamer Virginius desires to leave the
port of Puerto Cabello upon a legal and regular voyage,
without any evidence that she has on board articles
“contraband of war,” or intends any illegal act against the
government of Spain, he is to give his consent (so far as
that is required) and ask the consent of the local
authorities for her departure.
- 3d.
- That because of representations in relation to, and
accusations of illegal intensions made against this steamer,
he is to exercise due care not to give his sanction nor ask
the protection of the local authorities, nor their consent
for her departure from that port carrying articles
“contraband of war,” designed for the revolutionists in
Cuba, nor upon any illegal expedition to said island.
I have the honor to renewto your excellency the assurances of my high
consideration.
