Mr. Bowen to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, December 13,
1902.
No. 137.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of the letters that have passed between the Venezuelan Government
and me in regard to my serving as arbitrator for Venezuela.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Baralt to
Mr. Bowen.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
United States of
Venezuela,
Caracas, December 9,
1902.
Mr. Minister: The chief of the Government
knows that your excellency is acquainted with the latest phase of
the difficulty between Venezuela and Germany and Great Britain in
regard to the settlement of claims for alleged damages to the
subjects of the two latter nations during the civil war. The
above-mentioned difficulty, in the opinion of the Venezuelan
Government, has no valid foundation, as the precedents on which the
Government bases its opinion arise from pure doctrines of law as
well as from practical doctrines of indisputable validity. But as it
has not been possible to convince the other parties of the justice
of Venezuela’s attitude, and as the Government desires to avoid,
without impairing its decorum or its legal faculties, any conflict
with nations it considers as friends and to which it is bound by the
ties of civilization, it has deemed it proper to resort to the
medium of arbitration, a medium resorted to by modern nations and
approved of by the constitution of the Republic. Consequently the
chief of the Government, aware of your excellency’s personal
character and high order of intelligence, has instructed me to
request your excellency to serve as arbitrator for the Republic in
this question. Your excellency’s consent, which I venture to hope
will be given as soon as possible, will determine the nature of the
proposals which the Government intends to make to the abovementioned
nations.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Bowen to
Doctor Baralt.
Legation of the United States,
Caracas, December 11, 1902.
Mr. Minister: In answer to your very
courteous letter of the 9th instant, I have the honor to inform you
that I cabled the contents thereof to my Government and received the
following answer by cable:
“If Venezuela proposes arbitration, and Great Britain and Germany
acquiesce, you may act as an arbitrator on the part of
Venezuela.”
I can only add that it will give me great pleasure to serve Venezuela
in this matter if the opportunity presents itself and the conditions
as above stated by my Government are observed.
I gladly avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Doctor Baralt
to Mr. Bowen.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United States of
Venezuela,
Caracas, December 11,
1902.
Mr. Minister: I had the honor to inform the
chief of the nation of your reply to my note of the 9th instant, in
which your excellency not only kindly consents to
[Page 794]
serve the Republic in the present
international embroglio, but also informs us of the good will of the
United States in permitting you to be arbitrator on the part of
Venezuela in the difficulty that has arisen respecting the manner of
settling the claims of Great Britain and Germany for alleged damages
and injuries to their subjects during the civil war.
The President thanks your excellency sincerely for your friendly
attitude, and at the same time desires you to convey to your
Government the appreciation of Venezuela of the good will manifested
by the United States in this question.
Accept, etc.,
