No. 657.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Baker.
Washington, January 28, 1880.
Sir: I have received and given careful attention to your dispatch No. 186, of the 23d ultimo, in relation to the outrage alleged to have been perpetrated upon Mr. John E. Wheelock, an American citizen, by a civil officer of Venezuela, in the mining region near El Callao.
The Department is also in possession of other communications on the same subject from Mr. Wheelock himself, who is now residing at No. 66 Willow street, Brooklyn, N. Y., from his counsel, Mr. S. B. Elkins, of New York City, and from Consul Dalton, who writes fully on the subject from Ciudad Bolivar, under date of November 2, 1879, dispatch No. 32.
* * * * * * *
It appears, from Mr. Dalton’s correspondence, that the action of the authorities of the State of Guayana was commendably prompt. The outrage on Mr. Wheelock was perpetrated on the 13th of September last, and as early as the 26th of the same month the prefect of Roscio issued a stringent circular in reference to the numerous cruelties taking place in the mining district. Mr. Dalton having brought the case of Mr. Wheelock energetically to the notice of the president of the State of Guayana on the 30th of October, President Dalla Costa replied on the same day that he had ordered an immediate investigation, and the punishment of any parties found guilty. A few days later, on the 3d of November, the president of Guayana, under his own signature, and with the counter-signature of the subsecretary of Gobierno, issued an order denouncing the crime and its authors, and commanding due process and punishment. A translation of President Dalla Costa’s order is herewith transmitted for your information, and is presumably the paper referred to by the Venezuelan consul at Trinidad, Señor Obregon, in the letter you attach to your dispatch. Had no action been taken by [Page 1032] the authorities of Guayana, the ease would be one requiring immediate presentation through your legation to the Government of Venezuela, in the unofficial form warranted by your relations thereto. As, however, a very praiseworthy zeal seems to have been exhibited by the authorities of the State where the outrage occurred, it will be sufficient for you to seek an unofficial interview with the Venezuelan foreign secretary, and to set forth to him the urgent necessity, in the interest of humanity, of the good fame of his country, and of friendly relations with other countries, that no step be left untried to effect the speedy and condign punishment of the authors of an atrocity at which humanity shudders. You may also give Señor Viso to understand that it is expected that Venezuela will spontaneously tender to Mr. Wheelock a more adequate and fully substantial reparation for the tortures he has received at the hands of the Venezuelan officers than the mere punishment of the criminals can afford, and not have this case to swell the list of unredressed grievances which must sooner or later be brought to a settlement.
Should the minister desire it you may read this instruction to him, and furnish him with a copy also should he express a wish to possess it.
The claim preferred by Mr. Wheelock is for the sum of $50,000. Should it be necessary, in due time, to make formal demand for reparation, this government will consider what indemnity it would think proper. But it is hoped that the sense of justice and equity of the Venezuelan Government will guide it to an immediate and unconstrained disposition of this question.
I am, &c.,