delphia, port of Philadelphia, March 9, 1893," and signed "John J. Franklin, "deputy surveyor," the said vessel is described in part as a stern-wheel steamer with one deck and no masts, gross tonnage (466.07) four hundred and sixty-six and r tons, and net tonnage (322.33) three hundred and twenty-two and tons. I further certify that the said E. Lee is a citizen of the United States of America. Given under my hand and the seal of this consulate the 10th day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three. WILLIAM P. PIERCE, [Seal of consulate.] Consul. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and genuine copy of a certificate as recorded at this consulate, and which was duly executed and granted under my official seal and signature substantially as provided for by paragraph 313 of the U.S. Consular Regulations. Given under my hand and the seal of this consulate the day and year hereof. U. S. Consul. [Inclosure 3 in No. 97.] PRO MEMORIA. November 21, 1892, Mr. Scruggs sent his excellency Dr. Rojas a copy of a letter from John H. Dialogue & Son, of Camden, N. J., who contemplated building vessels for transportation purposes between the United States and Ciudad Bolivar. They desire to navigate the bayous of the Orinoco River, and before entering upon large expense they wished to know whether those bayous, as well as the main channel, were open to all flags, and especially the American, and whether the condition would likely be permanent. Mr. Scruggs therefore asked to be officially informed upon the subject. His excellency Dr. Rojas replied on the 22d of December, 1892, to the effect that foreign vessels bound for Ciudad Bolivar were allowed to enter the Orinoco River by any of the mouths and return likewise by any of them. This assurance was communicated to the Department of State at Washington, December 24, 1892, and by it to John H. Dialogue & Son, January 11, 1893. On the 1st of July, 1893, the Government of Venezuela issued a decree closing the mouths of the Orinoco to foreign commerce except the Boca Grande, and reserving the Padernales and Macareo channels for the coasting trade. It now appears from a letter of John H. Dialogue & Son, dated July 29 last, that, acting upon the assurance of the Venezuelan Government, they have built a vessel "especially for the navigation of the Orinoco River through the mouths adjacent to Port of Spain; that the vessel is utterly unfit to navigate the principal mouth, and that there is no possible way of altering her to make her suitable for such navigation." The decree in question recognizes the fact that vessels adapted to the navigation of the lesser mouths would not be suitable for the navigation of the Boca Grande. The preliminary inquiry of Dialogue & Son evidences their good faith in the matter. The assurance given them was definite, and they, relying upon it, have undertaken large expense. The circumstances seem to suggest that unless some way can be found to relieve this particular ship from the operation of the decree of July 1, great damage would unjustly be done her owners. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, August 16, 1893. FRANK C. PARTRIDGE. [Inclosure 4 in No. 97.] Mr. Partridge to Señor Rojas. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, October 14, 1893. Mr. MINISTER: Referring to our previous conversations with respect thereto, permit me to again call your attention to the memorandum which I sent you, August 16, relative to the case of John H. Dialogue & Son, agents for Mr. E. Lee. For your convenience I inclose another copy of the memorandum. I would add that the Delta, the vessel in question, is a stern-wheel steamer, with one deck and no masts, about 160 feet long, 40 feet beam, and 9 feet depth of hold. Her gross tonnage is 466.07 tons, and her net tonnage 322.33 tons. Being unfit for ocean travel, she was shipped in pieces from the shipyards of Dialogue & Son, at Camden, State of New Jersey, United States of America, to Trinidad, where she has been reconstructed by her owner, Mr. Lee. According to my advices of the last of August, the vessel was afloat, the boilers and most of the machinery were on board, and the upper deck well advanced. She is intended for service between Trinidad and Ciudad Bolivar, and is capable of navigating the gulf of Paria, in order to enter the Padernales and the Macareo mouths, but not of navigating the high seas, as would be necessary to enter the Boca Grande. Nor could she be adapted to, or sold for, some other trade, as she can not be sent across the seas. Briefly, the case stands thus: A citizen of the United States desiring to construct some vessel for the navigation of the Orinoco River to Ciudad Bolivar, and familiar with the widely different necessities of a vessel suited to the navigation of the lesser mouths and the navigation of the Boca Grande, frankly stated his purpose to his "Government, through his agents, and that he did not desire to undertake the necessary expense involved without assurance that the navigation of the lesser mouths would be permitted." The Government of the United States thereupon, through this legation, formally inquired with respect thereto of the Government of Venezuela, and received through the medium of your excellency the desired assurance. This information was communicated to the agents of the owner and he, relying upon it, has undertaken large expense, which the decree of July 1, unless modified at least with respect to the Delta, will render practically valueless. Upon a mere statement of the facts I submit to your excellency whether common justice and good faith does not require the Government of Venezuela to permit the Delta to navigate the lesser mouths or else to save her owner harmless in some other way? The form which the relief is to take must determine the present course which it is best for Mr. Lee to pursue in regard to his vessel. As it is, he is left wholly in doubt. I therefore earnestly renew my request that your excellency will inform me what the purpose of the Government of Venezuela is in the premises. I avail myself, etc., FRANK C. PARTRIDGE. No. 109.] Mr. Partridge to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, December 27, 1893. (Received January 6, 1894.) SIR: With reference to my dispatch, No. 97, of the 18th of October last, I have the honor to inform you that since then I have had several informal conferences with the minister of foreign affairs relative to the case of J. H. Dialogue & Son, agents for Mr. E. Lee, arising out of the closure to foreign commerce of the lesser mouths of the Orinoco River. The matter has lately been under consideration by the cabinet, and during a conversation with Señor Rojas at the ministry yesterday he said to me that he expected that the case would be satisfactorily settled within two or three weeks by a revocation of the decree of July 1. This is the disposition of it most to be desired, and the one which in our conferences I have urged upon the minister, in so far as I could with propriety, as the best course for Venezuela, irrespective of foreign interests. I am convinced that the decree instead of preventing contraband would increase the opportunities for it. I have, etc., FRANK C. PARTRIDGE. ALPHABETICAL INDEX. A. Aliens, registration of, in France... Arbitration, international, favored by British House of Commons.. In Central America In Chile In Persia Page 302 346, 352 212 217-221 487-492, 496, 505-506, 508 Asylum of passengers on board American vessels.. 5, 13, 14, 22 Military service of Edward Drucker; his arrest and release. B. Belligerent rights refused to Brazilian insurgents. 15, 23 13, 14, 23 Asylum given to rebel officers of the Brazilian navy on board a Portu- 139-141 Attitude of United States and foreign naval commanders toward the 70, 72, 75, 78, 82-89, Presidential elections.. 137, 138 39, 114, 120, 137, 138 buco Bulgaria: Protection of American interests in, by British representatives.... C. Censorship over religious books in Turkey. Central America: 42 656 599, 627, 632 Claim of Henry B. Myers against Salvador. 174-179, 181, 182, 184 Firing of cannon on American steamer, Costa Rica at Amapala, Honduras. 154-155 Revolution in Nicaragua ---- ....... 197, 200, 213-214 Central America-Continued. Sovereignty of Nicaragua over the Mosquito reservation.. Page. Violation of neutrality laws of the United States by American steamer S. 149-152 Chile: Asylum in legation of the United States granted to and withdrawn from 217-221 Monument erected at Valparaiso to the officers and men of the U. S. S. 223-224 China: Anniversary of the Empress Dowager's birthday 240 Bond system applied to navigation on the Yangtze River 225 232 Certificates of identity issued to exempted class of Chinese. 250, 251, 260, 263, 265 Claims: Diplomatic intervention in the matter of foreign claims, denied by the 498 731-734 Colombia: Boundary dispute between Costa Rica and Colombia 266-277, 286-294 D. Deaths of foreign diplomatic representatives in the United States..... E. Emigration from Turkey, permission of the Turkish Government necessary 591, 603, 649, 666 France Persia Turkey. Expulsion of naturalized citizens from Russia. Expulsion of naturalized citizens of the United States from Turkey 419 301 490 688, 692 542, 544, 545 689, 693, 699, 702, 703, 705, 708-711 but should not be attended with the infliction of punishment on expelled 699 706, 715 572 569, 572, 699 and be based on facts that establish the justice and necessity of such Expulsion: Right of States to expel undesirable aliens.. F. Forced loan in Nicaragua: Exemption of Americans under treaty stipulations. G. Great Britain: Arbitration, international, resolution of the House of Commons in favor Claim of Wm. Webster for lands in New Zealand Complaint of Capt. Kustel against Capt. Davis, of the British war ship Diplomatic representatives raised to the rank of ambassador Page. 346, 352 308, 319 307, 309, 322, 326 329, 330, 337, 340 313 325, 326 305, 306, 308, 321 350 334, 340, 346, 347, 348, 351, 352, 354 Mosquito Reservation, sovereignty of Nicaragua over the.. Protection of American interests in Bulgaria, by the British representa- Protection, reciprocal, of citizens and subjects in Turkey. Wrecking privileges in conterminous waters Guatemala. (See Central America.) Haiti: H. Arrest and imprisonment of, and payment of indemnity to Frederick Japan: Rescne, by Japanese villagers, of the crew of the American vessel Jews- Passports of, refused visé by Russian representatives in the United States, Restrictions on their right to sell land in Palestine...... Liberia: Boundary treaty with France... M. Mails in Turkey: Interference of authorities with the free circulation of Mails: Facilities accorded in Venezuela to steamers carrying the. Mevs, Frederick: Arrest and imprisonment in Haiti, followed by Mexico: 605, 617, 623, 625 restoration 408-417 Imprisonment of Edward Lycan at Guaymas... 455-456, 462, 466-467 Invasion of Mexican territory by a deputy sheriff at Nogales, Ariz In Turkey... 331, 337, 589, 593, 603, 604-620, 624-635, 641-642, 649, 651, 652, 656-665, Mosquito reservation, sovereignty of Nicaragua over the....... 163-172, 182, 313, 321 |