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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.

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WILLIAM R. FINCH.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Montevideo, Uruguay, August 26, 1902.

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.
E. FLEYTAS.

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 communica tion 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,
Washington, April 7, 1902.

(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,
Caracas, April 8, 1902.

(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.

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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.

[Inclosure 1.]

Memoranda in matter of refusal of Venezuelan consul at Port of Spain to issue clearance papers to the steamship Viking, of the New York and Bermudez Company.

[April 3. Received 4.30 p. m.]

Cable from Major Rafferty advising that the Venezuelan consul had refused clearance papers to steamship Viking. After consulting American consul, Port of Spain, and the captain of the U. S. S. Hartford, the American consul signed papers. Requested us to notify the American minister at Carácas.

[April 3, 1 p. m.]

Cabled to Major Rafferty advising him that his complaint would be brought to the immediate attention of the American minister.

[April 5. Received 11 a. m.]

Major Rafferty cabled advising us that the steamship Viking had been fired upon by unknown parties in San Juan, Frances Rivers, at 2 o'clock in the morning. Revolution increasing and in possession of Caño Colorado; property and lives Guanoco great danger; requesting us to apply for protection to the American minister at Carácas. Reports U. S. S. Hartford at Port of Spain.

[April 5. Sent 1.15 p. m.]

Cabled to Major Rafferty that we had advised American minister of Guanoco situation; after consulting with captain of Hartford to let us know as soon as possible if another war ship was needed at Port of Spain.

[April 5.]

Received letter of 2d from Port of Spain. Major Rafferty advises us that he is having difficulty with Venezuelan consul, who has refused to clear the steamship Viking for Caño Colorado on the ground that the latter place has been in the hands of the revolutionists. U. S. S. Hartford at Port of Spain, and as the Viking must go to Guanoco, if necessary he will ask protection from the commander of the Hartford.

[April 6.]

Letter to Major Rafferty-probably received by him on the morning of the 10th. Acknowledged his cable of 5th instant and advised him that translation of his message had been handed to the American minister. We were uncertain from his message whether the danger at Guanoco was due to revolutionary disturbances or not, although we assumed that to be the case; that the American minister dreaded to send the Hartford to Guanoco in view of the fact that she was a training ship and carried such a large proportion of young men, and that a landing party might be compelled to remain there for a long time, until the revolution had subsided; that it had finally been decided that he should consult the captain of the Hartford and advise whether another war ship was necessary at Port of Spain, and since he was in touch with the Hartford the captain of that vessel would doubtless not hesitate to act in any emergency that might arise. We suggested further, in view of Mr. Bowen's advices to the State Department, assuming that the captain of the Hartford would report to his Department, together with our cable report to the New York office, his proper relief ought to be close at hand.

[April 7, 10.40 a. m.]

Received cablegram containing errors in transmission that obscured the sense and were not able to determine contents of message until repetitions were received 6.25 p. m. Major Rafferty cabled acknowledging our cable of the 5th. Informs us of his conference with the captain of the Hartford and that the Hartford will sail for St. Croix the following morning; will require small war ship. Captain of Hartford has instructed American consul, who has notified Washington of Viking incident.

[April 7.]

Letter to Major Rafferty, probably received by him on 12th; acknowledging his cable of even date, and advising him that prior to receipt of repetitions enabling us to decipher his message, the American minister had called and stated that he had received

a communication from the State Department covering the Viking incident, and as soon as we translated his cable we had laid the contents before the American minister; that in view of the great difficulties surrounding cable communication between Port of Spain and Carácas, and the infrequency of mails, the American minister suggested that in such emergencies it would seem to be desirable that the American consul at Port of Spain should take the question up direct.

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Major Rafferty cables acknowledging our letter of 6th and says we correctly understand Guanoco sitution to be due to revolutionary disturbances; will leave to-day for Guanoco, protecting ourselves, and return April 14; was detained by Venezuelan consul, who threatens seizure of steamship Viking; American war ships have left Port of Spain; American consul slow to act.

[April 12. Sent 1.45 p. m.]

Cable to Major Rafferty acknowledging his cablegram; have seen the American minister, advising him to make demand for all needful papers of the Venezuelan consul, in the presence of his lawyer as witness, making statement of cause assigned if he refuses; in case the American consul refuses to act, to cable New York for war ship.

[April 12.]

Major Rafferty's letter of 10th received. Major Rafferty says that he has discovered that the Venezuelan consul proposed to send a gunboat to seize the steamship Viking if he left for Guanoco that day; he points out the necessity of going to Guanoco to provision our men there and to attend to important work under exploitation; he will consult the American consul and be guided by circumstances; calls attention to the gravity of the situation, and points out that the State Department should come to our relief by affording necessary protection, or permit us to properly arm ourselves to insure our own protection.

[April 12, 6.25 p. m.]

Cabled to Major Rafferty, cautioning him to act within the law. Advised him we were accomplishing everything possible in absence of his detailed report.

[April 13.]

Received the following letter from Major Rafferty, dated April 7, from Port of Spain:

DEAR SIR: As reported in my letters by royal mail, Dr. Ponce and myself left here for Guanoco on the 2d of April.

It was on the same day that the consul refused clearance papers on the ground that Caño Colorado was in possession of the revolutionists.

He was particularly careful to spring this on us late in the day, after having kept us delayed on one pretext or another, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Warner & Quinlan people brought him his instructions and that he was trying to delay us all he could. As it was imperative that Dr. Ponce and I should go to Guanoco without delay, I appealed to the American consul at Port of Spain, who hesi tated to act until convinced by the captain of the Hartford. American consul, Port of Spain, then signed the necessary papers. The Venezuelan consul is evidently of wrath at what he considers our lack of respect, and made a number of covert threats as to what would happen if his orders were disregarded. However, the captain of the Hartford told me to go ahead, and that he would take care of any side shows that might be tried on us.

Ön reaching Caño Colorado we found Gen. Horacio Ducharme in control of customhouse, and he entered and cleared us as chief of the revolution.

Dr. Ponce and myself reached our destination on the evening of the 2d, and made every possible arrangement to meet the Warner & Quinlan people if they came our way, and I left our place at 10 o'clock on the night of April 3, well satisfied that our people could hold down the situation. Everything went well until we reached the junction of the San Juan-Frances rivers, when I was suddenly called by captain of Viking, who reported that we were being fired upon, and he at the same time promptly seized a barker and fired back. do not know who the parties were, but there were three rowboats with quite a number of men. We continued on our way,

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