Minister Russell to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Caracas, April 29,
1906.
No. 74]Sir: I have the honor to inform you that a
rather unlooked-for hitch has occurred in the negotiations between
Venezuela and Colombia for a renewal of diplomatic relations.
Gen. Benjamin Herrera, Colombia’s minister plenipotentiary on special
mission to arrange a treaty, arrived in Caracas about three weeks ago.
General Herrera made an official visit to the minister for foreign
affairs, which was returned within forty-eight hours, and a few days
after requested to be received in solemn audience by the Acting
President, inclosing his credentials and a copy of the remarks he
intended to make on the occasion of his presentation. The Venezuelan
Government in a very polite note acknowledged the receipt of this
communication, but stated that in accordance with the spirit and letter
of the protocol of December 8 the reestablishment of diplomatic
relations was “an immediate consequence and ipso facto” of the treaty
that was to be arranged, and that consequently the Vice-President in
charge of the presidency would be very glad to receive him in solemn
audience as minister plenipotentiary on special mission after the
celebration of the treaty, “when he would then reveal his character as
minister plenipotentiary on special mission.”
Several notes were passed, and the Venezuelan Government claimed that the
only thing for the Colombian plenipotentiary to do was to exchange
credentials with Venezuela’s plenipotentiary and proceed
[Page 1440]
to arrange a treaty. Finally the
Venezuelan Government declined to proceed any further except through a
new representative of Colombia.
General Herrera has written a letter to the members of the diplomatic
corps stating his position and why he has not been able to call on them
officially.
I inclose you a translation of the protocol of December 8, and
copiesa of the
correspondence as published in El Constitutional.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Act for the renewal of diplomatic relations
between Venezuela and Colombia.
We the undersigned, Dr. Rafael López Baralt and Dr. José Ignacio Díaz
Granados, invested with the character of confidential agents of the
United States of Venezuela and of the Republic of Colombia, as
appears from the credentials which have been presented and found in
due form, desirous of fulfilling faithfully the wishes of our
Governments to make effective that harmony which the many bonds
uniting the two nations have ever required and with a view to assure
the common good of both peoples, have agreed as follows:
- First. The Governments of the United States of Venezuela
and of the Republic of Colombia shall name simultaneously
ministers plenipotentiary on special missions to arrange the
bases of a treaty in regard to navigation, frontiers, and
frontier and transit commerce, with a view to satisfying the
necessities and aspirations of the two countries.
- Second. Having reestablished, in the way above stated,
diplomatic relations between the two Governments, absolutely
forgetting all causes of complaint which either one may have
against the other, the special plenipotentiaries named shall
proceed to celebrate, in conformity with the conditions or
bases already agreed upon, the treaty above mentioned, and
this latter having once been done, the two Governments shall
accredit their respective, legations to Caracas and
Bogota.
- Third. Until the treaty referred to shall be celebrated
and put into execution, which treaty must be arranged, the
commercial and the friendly relations between the two
nations shall continue on the same footing of cordiality as
they are at present.
The present act shall be submitted by the undersigned confidential
agents to their respective Governments in order that they may give
their approval to it.
Made, signed, and sealed in duplicate in
Caracas
the 8th of
December, 1905.
- R. López Baralt,
- José Ignacio Díaz
Granados.
