Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, June 21, 1875.
(Received July 12.)
No. 80.]As Mr. Brakel has sent this somewhat elaborate reply to my note, courtesy
seems to require me to inclose it. But if the matter should ever become one
of serious consideration, there are some important facts which I should
desire to lay before the Department. At present, as I have intimated, I do
not feel justified in discussing a paper which I have not read.
[Inclosure in No.
80.—Translation.]
Mr. Braid to Mr.
Russell.
Sir and Dear Colleague: I have the honor to
acknowledge the reception of the note dated the 17th of this month, by
which you have been pleased to communicate to me that you have received
from the minister of foreign relations at Venezuela the circular of the
14th, asking you to transmit to your Government a sealed letter relating
to a claim against the Netherlands for the expenses of the last
rebellion, a letter which contained a memorandum of reasons on which
this claim is founded, as well as an appeal to the good offices of the
friendly governments. While thanking you warmly for this communication
and for the kind words with which you have been pleased to accompany it,
I take the liberty to offer you on the subject in question the following
suggestions:
The first news of the rebellion at Coro reached the authorities at
Curaçoa October 26, 1874, and his excellency the governor, and on the
next day the governor prohibited the export of all munitions of war.
It seems that this act of good neighborhood has not been duly
appreciated.
As for the proofs of facts brought forward, they consist chiefly of
declarations, not sworn to, of persons mostly Venezuelans, made before
the authorities of this nation, without the presence of any Netherlands
authority.
The worth of these.
I am sure that if the government of Venezuela had acceded to the request
of the Dutch legation to publish in “the Report of the Minister of
Foreign Relations of 1875” the notes which I have had the honor to
address to it on this subject, your Government, on reading the
memorandum which is presented to it, would be immediately convinced that
the attitude of the Dutch government in the conduct of its authorities
at Curaçoa during the rebellion in Coro is absolutely
irreproachable.
Further, an impartial study of this claim and of the grounds of support
will lead, no doubt, to the conclusion that it is without real
foundation.
Be pleased to receive, sir and dear colleague, the fresh assurances of my
high consideration.
His Excellency Mr. Thomas Russell,
Minister Resident of the United States of North
America at Venezuela.
