It says: Señor Hector Carvallo, who has assumed the Presidency of the Republic, is a man of good principle and is surrounded by elements which are a guaranty for the welfare of his country." [Inclosure 2.-Translated from the Montevideo Día, dated January 10, 1902.] The President of Paraguay―Revolutionary movement—Its causes and antecedents. Yesterday, at 10 o'clock in the morning, a revolutionary movement occurred in Asuncion del Paraguay, without bloodshed, without noise of arms, which immediately resulted in the imprisonment of the President of the Republic, Dr. Emilio Aceval, in the artillery barracks. A strange case-the chief magistrate of Paraguay has fallen, at least for the moment, on account of a revolution, inspired and carried into practice by two of his own ministers, Col. Juan Antonio Escurra and Señor Fulgencio Moreno, who, although belonging to the same Colorado party as the President, differ in opinion at present, the former considering that a radical policy should be adopted against the liberals or civic accordists, Dr. Aceval not sharing this opinion, but being in favor of conciliatory measures, although this did not win for him the help of his traditional adversaries, who looked unfavorably on him, as is usually the way with those belonging to an opposite party. For some time the radical Colorados have been quietly opposing Dr. Aceval. There were latent causes for great discontentment and bitter differences between the political elements presided over by the Paraguayan President, and lately these differences had increased between the heads of the various political circles which had brought Aceval to the Presidency. These differences existing within the Government circle, were stimulated by the cabinet crisis recently caused by the resignation of the minister of the interior, influenced chiefly by the problem of the future Presidency, and ended in the revolution, or rather the change of Government, since the movement has occurred within the Government and was caused by the men in power. Necessarily a conflict had to occur between the two Colorado factions-one exclusivist, that of Generals Caballero and Escobar, the other moderate and conciliatory, that of the President and General Eguzquiza. The former, the date of the Presidential election approaching, supported the candidacy of Señor Guillermo de los Rios, ultra radical. The President opposed it. Under these circumstances the cabinet crisis occurred, Señor de los Rios, the minister of the interior, resigning, but not without having previously made an alliance with his colleagues of war, Colonel Ezcurra, and of finance, Señor Moreno, who appear as the heads of the plot against President Aceval. On the same occasion Dr. Badillo, minister of justice, also resigned, but not for political reasons, it seems. This is the origin of the revolution of yesterday. As will be seen by our telegraphic service, that movement has triumphed, the resignation of Dr. Aceval having been obtained. Congress accepted it, and in his place Señor Carvallo was named. Unfortunately the movement has not ended without bloodshed, several personages having been wounded in the fight which occurred yesterday afternoon. [Inclosure 3.] Mr. Warrunek to Mr. Finch. DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, GENERAL OFFICES OF BUREAU OF INFORMATION, Asuncion (Republic of Paraguay), December 5, 1901. DEAR SIR: There is no doubt that industrially and financially Paraguay is in a bad way, gold having advanced to nearly 1,000, and each day it is becoming harder to live and to do business. To my mind this state of affairs is due to the propensity of the people to live and dress in style without producing the means to buy those things. Ways of communication, agriculture, etc., are neglected, and a lot is wasted on soldiers, uniforms, gold braid, and firecrackers. Yet this is not the fault of any political faction nor of the existing Government, but rather of the whole peoplethe ruts into which they have gotten. I believe that the present administration is as clean, honest, and anxious to do its best as any that can be selected in Paraguay. President Aceval certainly is a man of ability and possesses the confidence of the majority of his people and, I am sure, of foreigners very generally, though the latter do not mix up in national politics. The impending crisis is due to causes outside of politics. The present cabinet consists of men than whom there are none better in Paraguay, especially the ministers of foreign affairs and of the interior. There are six daily papers here-El País, the Government organ; the Civico, a decent organ of the opposition; the Democracia, an organ of Dr. Baez (present representative in the Pan-American Congress in Mexico, who aspires to the Presidency), opposed to the administration and to foreigners, and the Paraguay, whose principal object, evidently from personal motives, is to attack Minister de los Rios. Then there is the Patria Paraguaya, organ of the priests, and, lastly, the Patria (called here "Chica," because it is small). The last named is conducted by a son of the tyrant Lopez and Madam Lynch, and his attitude is explained by the fact that he has a pending claim of many years' standing against the Government to some 1,000 square leagues of land, as the illegitimate heir of his father. It is lucky for Paraguay that he is impecunious as well as unprincipled, otherwise he might do more damage than he is doing. He owes the Government about $1,000 for telegraph service and the Government refused to trust him further, hence another motive for his attacks. While he criticises the cut of President Aceval's coat and indulges in other childish and nauseating tirades, he does not propose (nor do any of the other organs) any remedy for Paraguay's ills. Sincerely, vours, J. WAVRUNEK. RECEPTION OF OFFICERS OF U. S. S. IOWA BY THE PRESIDENT OF URUGUAY. No. 520.] Mr. Finch to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Montevideo, Uruguay, February 18, 1902. SIR: Yesterday afternoon, at the request of Capt. Thomas Perry, U. S. Navy, commander of the U. S. S. Iowa, now lying in this port, I introduced him to President Cuestas. Captain Perry was accompanied by several officers from the Iowa, who were also introduced to the President. The reception accorded Captain Perry and his officers by President Cuestas was cordial. The stay was short, but the President was very frank in his expressions of preference for the United States. He spoke of the pleasure it had given him when he learned of the personal attention shown his son, Minister Juan Cuestas, by Secretary of State Hay and President McKinley, on the minister's arrival in Washington. He regretted, he said, his inability to satisfactorily express his gratitude for their treatment of Uruguay's representative. He said also he had frequently wept over the assassination of President McKinley, whom he held in the highest esteem. Respectfully, WILLIAM R. FINCH. PROTECTION OF CUBAN INTERESTS BY UNITED STATES CONSULAR OFFICIALS. Mr. Finch to Mr. Hay. No. 545.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: As instructed in your cable" dated the 24th of May last I asked and obtained from the Government of Uruguay permission for United States consuls within its jurisdiction to use their good offices in representation of the interests of Cuba and of its citizens until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed, and at once notified the United States consuls at Montevideo, Colonia, and Paysandu. Respectfully, No. 570.] Mr. Finch to Mr. Hay. * WILLIAM R. FINCH. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I inclose copy and translation of a communication from the foreign office of Paraguay, dated August 12, 1902, inclosing a decree of the acting President recognizing United States consuls in that Republic as representatives of Cuba and Cuban citizens and interests until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed. I also inclose copy of my response, dated the 26th instant, also copy of my communication to Consul John N. Ruffin, at Asuncion, notifying him that he is authorized to use his "good offices in the interest of Cuba and Cuban citizens until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed or until otherwise instructed." Respectfully, WILLIAM R. FINCH. [Inclosure 1.-Translation.] Mr. Fleytas to Mr. Finch. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Republic of Paraguay, Asuncion, August 12, 1902. MR. MINISTER: I have had the honor to receive your excellency's note, dated the 26th of May last, expressing that at the request of the President of Cuba the honorable Secretary of State at Washington had instructed your excellency to solicit from my Government the recognition of the consuls of the United States in this country to represent the interests of Cuba until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed. In response, I have the pleasure to say to you, Mr. Minister, that in accordance with the promise communicated to you in the telegram of June 9 last, by decree of this date, an authentic copy of which is inclosed, the President of the Republic has been pleased to recognize the North American consul in Asuncion as the representative of Cuban interests in Paraguay, as I already had the satisfaction to make known to your excellency in my telegram of to-day. I avail myself, etc., E. FLEYTAS. [Subinclosure.-Translation.] ASUNCION, August 12, 1902. In view of the note of the North American legation, dated the 26th of May last, expressing that at the request of the President of Cuba the foreign office of its country solicits that the North American consul in this country may represent the interests of Cuba and of its citizens until consuls of that nation shall have been appointed, The Vice-President of the Republic, in the exercise of the Executive power, decrees: ARTICLE 1. The North American consul in Asuncion is recognized as the representative of the interests of the Cuban Republic, in accordance with the expressed request of the North American legation. ART. 2. Communicate, publish, and give to the Official Register. It is a copy of the original: CARVALLO. CLETODO J. SANCHEZ, Subsecretary. [Inclosure 2.] Mr. Finch to Mr. Fleytas. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Montevideo, Uruguay, August 26, 1902. SIR: I take pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your excellency's communication dated the 12th instant, in response to mine of the 26th of May last, in which you inclose authenticated copy of a decree of the President of Paraguay recognizing the United States consuls in your Republic as representatives of Cuban interests and citizens until that country shall appoint Cuban consuls. I will state for the information of your excellency that no telegram was received at this legation on the 12th instant, or at any other date, referring to this action on the part of the President of Paraguay. Copy and translation of your excellency's communication and the decree which you were pleased to inclose will be sent to the Department of State at Washington. I have, etc., [Inclosure 3.] Mr. Finch to Mr. Ruffin. WILLIAM R. FINCH. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Montevideo, Uruguay, August 26, 1902. DEAR SIR: Paraguay having consented in a decree issued by the President of that Republic dated the 12th instant, you are authorized, in addition to your duties as United States consul, to use your good offices in the interest of Cuba and its citizens until Cuban consuls shall have been appointed, or until otherwise instructed. Very truly, yours, FR 1902, PT 1—67 WILLIAM R. FINCH. VENEZUELA. THREATENED SEIZURE OF THE "VIKING," WHICH SAILED FOR A VENEZUELAN PORT IN POSSESSION OF INSURGENTS UNDER CLEARANCE OF UNITED STATES CONSUL AT PORT OF SPAIN, THE VENEZUELAN CONSUL AT THAT PORT HAVING REFUSED THE VESSEL CLEARANCE. Mr. Hay to Mr. Bowen. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay directs that inquiries be made into fact and circumstances of alleged firing upon steamer of New York and Bermudez Company in San Juan River.) Mr. Bowen to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Bowen reports that the Venezuelan minister for foreign affairs states that his Government knows nothing about a steamer of the New York and Bermudez Company having been fired upon in San Juan River, and that the act was probably committed by revolutionists. Mr. Bowen states that the steamer in question is at Trinidad, and suggests that it might be advisable to send a United States war vessel there to investigate. * * * No. 85.] Mr. Bowen to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, April 20, 1902. SIR: I have the honor to forward some memoranda in regard to the firing upon of the steamer Viking. These documents were filed with me by the managing director of the New York and Bermudez Company, Mr. Rake. I am, etc., HERBERT W. Bowen. |