Señor Bolet-Peraza to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, February 11, 1892. (Received February 11.)
Sir: I have received from my Government a reply to the communication with which I transmitted to it your excellency’s note of the 7th of January last, whereby your excellency was pleased to notify this legation that the U. S. Government had determined to name the 15th of March next as the limit of the term granted for the conclusion of treaties of commercial reciprocity, to which reference is made in the tariff law now in force in this Republic.
My Government has taken note of that determination, and again instructs me to inform your excellency that ever since the U. S. Government proposed the conclusion of such a treaty it has been endeavoring to overcome the various difficulties to which the matter gave rise, having to that effect solicited the wise and energetic action of the National Congress, which body, in its carefully prepared and judicious reply to the President’s message, pointed out the various obstacles that lay in the way of the conclusion of a treaty that should not seriously impair the principal source of income of the public treasury, and that should not give rise to annoying difficulties with those countries which, in virtue of special treaties, have a right to expect for their agricultural or manufactured productions advantages similar to those which may be granted by Venezuela to the merchandise of any other nation.
My Government, however, being actuated by the best wishes to accept the invitation of that of the United States, has opened negotiations with Mr. Scruggs, and has appointed Bon Vicente Coronado, the minister of finance, as a special delegate to conduct said negotiations, whereby it has sought not only to facilitate the settlement of the matter by reason of its relation to the fiscal branch of the Government, but also to give evidence of its desire for the conclusion of the treaty on lasting principles, as must be those which shall in all respects conform to the only conditions of existence in Venezuela of the national treasury.
The negotiations commenced with Mr. Scruggs have not yet led to the desired result, although this does not imply that (when the matter shall again come before the ministry of foreign relations, owing to the minister of finance’s resignation of the office of special delegate, for the reason that he is obliged to take part in the deliberations of the next Congress) the conferences may not be continued until a treaty is concluded, before the 15th of March, whereby satisfactory provision will be made for the commercial interests of both countries.
[Page 502]I am happy to be able to make to your excellency the foregoing statement of the efforts of my Government in this matter, in which it has been inspired by the most earnest desire that its relations with the United States may constantly become more cordial and more firmly cemented.
With sentiments, etc.