Office of the Historian

Mr. Bowen to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, December 13, 1902.
No. 141.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of the letters I received and sent in regard to the matter of taking charge of the British and German legations.

I am, etc.,

Herbert W. Bowen.
[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Haggard to Mr. Bowen.

British Legation,
Caracas, December 8, 1902.

Sir: His Majesty’s Government has informed me that on the 29th ultimo your excellency was directed by the United States Government to undertake the charge of British interests in Venezuela in the event of that necessity arising.

I have therefore the honor to inform your excellency that I am leaving Caracas temporarily and to request you to be good enough to take charge of British interests during my absence.

The Venezuelan Government has been informed that British interests have been placed under your excellency’s charge.

I have, etc.,

W. H. D. Haggard.
[Inclosure 2.]

Mr. von Pilgrim to Mr. Bowen.

Imperial German Legation,
Caracas, December 8, 1902.

Sir: The Imperial Government has informed me that your excellency has been directed by the Government of the United States to undertake the charge of German interests in Venezuela in the event of that necessity arising. I have therefore the honor to inform your excellency that I am leaving Caracas temporarily and to request you to be good enough to take charge of German interests during my absence.

The Venezuelan Government has been informed that the German interests in Venezuela have been placed under your excellency’s charge.

Accept, etc.,

Von Pilgrim-Baltazzi.
[Page 796]
[Inclosure 3.]

Mr. Bowen to Doctor Baralt.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, December 8, 1902.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform you that the British minister, Mr. Haggard, has left Caracas temporarily and that he has asked me to take charge of British interests here during his absence. My Government has instructed me to comply with his request, after obtaining the consent of your excellency’s Government.

I therefore respectfully request that the Venezuelan Government grant me permission to take charge temporarily of British interests here.

I gladly avail myself, etc.,

Herbert W. Bowen.
[Inclosure 4.]

Mr. Bowen to Doctor Baralt.

Legation of the United States,
Caracas, December 8, 1902.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform you that the German chargé d’affaires, Mr. von Pilgrim, has left Caracas temporarily, and that he has asked me to take charge of German interests here during his absence. My Government has instructed me to comply with his request after obtaining the consent of your excellency’s Government.

I therefore respectfully request that the Venezuelan Government grant me permission to take charge temporarily of German interests here.

I gladly avail, etc.,

Herbert W. Bowen.
[Inclosure 5.—Translation.]

Doctor Baralt to Mr. Bowen.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United States of Venezuela,
Caracas, December 9, 1902.

Mr. Minister: Your excellency’s note which I received to-day was a confirmation of a notice given to me yesterday by his excellency Mr. Haggard, minister resident of His Britannic Majesty, to the effect that he was going temporarily on board of one of His Majesty’s men-of-war anchored in the harbor of La Guaira and had left your excellency in the meanwhile in charge of British interests. Your excellency requests permission of the Venezuelan Government to represent said interests; a request which the chief of the Government grants with the greatest pleasure to the minister of a nation so friendly to Venezuela, and also as said representation will be only temporary, the only case where double representation is admitted.

I renew, etc.,

R. Lopez Baralt.

The answer in regard to Germany is identical with the above except that in place of Mr. Haggard’s name appears “The Honorable Mr. Pilgrim-Baltazzi, chargé d’affaires of the German Empire.”