Mr. Loomis to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, May 2,
1898.
No. 128.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith the
answer of the Venezuelan Government to my note transmitting a copy of
your cablegram of April 26 in reference to the existence of a state of
war between the United States and Spain.
* * * * * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Neutrality.—Notification by Venezuela.
The following note addressed by the Government of Venezuela to the
United States minister at Caracas proclaims and defines the attitude
of neutrality adopted by that country in the present conflict
between the United States and Spain:
United States of
Venezuela,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Caracas, April 29, 1898.
Your Excellency: With your courteous
communication of the 26th instant, your excellency inclosed a copy
of a telegram received the same day from His Excellency the
Secretary of State, in regard to the state of war existing since the
21st of the present month between the North American Republic and
the Kingdom of Spain.
Inasmuch as His Excellency the Secretary of State, in communicating
the fact of the existence of war, asked you to inform this
Government, to the end that its neutrality might be assured, I have
the honor to inform you that this expectation on the part of the
Government of the United States is in perfect accord with the
intentions of the executive, to wit, that the Republic will preserve
the strictest neutrality during the contest. The Government of
Venezuela, through its regular channel, will to-day, likewise,
inform the Spanish nation.
I renew, etc.,
His Excellency Francis B.
Loomis,
Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.
[Telegram received in
cipher.]
Caracas, May 5, 1898.
(Received 12.46 p.m.)
Sherman,
Secretary, Washington, D. C.:
Venezuela proclaimed neutrality; is very satisfactory. Legation of
the United States guarded. * * * Would be of great service to
telegraph victories here. General news is very hostile and
worthless.
[Page 1132]
[Telegram.]
Caracas, May 14,
1898. (Received 1.25 p.m.)
Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:
Consul cables me four Spanish cruisers and two torpedo boats sighted
off Curacao to-day.
[Telegram.]
Department of State,
Washington, May 14,
1898.
Loomis,
Minister, Caracas:
Ascertain immediately from consul, Curacao, number of Spanish ships,
how much coal they took, and any other information.
[Telegram received in
cipher.]
Caracas, May 15,
1898. (Received 12.13 a.m., May
16.)
Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:
Spanish war vessels will leave Curacao about 6 to-night; destination
unknown.
[Telegram, cipher.]
United States Legation in Venezuela,
Caracas, via Haiti, May
15, 1898. (Received 15, 5.45
p.m.)
Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:
The consul at Curacao telegraphs Vizcaya and
María Teresa are coaling. * * * Nothing
known yet of movements. Cable later.
[Press telegram.]
Caracas, via
Haiti (May 16,
1898).
Sherman,
Secretary, Washington:
Fleet left Curacao Sunday evening 6, steering west.
