The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-05
CLAIMS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AGAINST
VENEZUELA.


The following is copy OF the report recently made
In the House Of Represent atives by Mr.. WILKINSON,
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, TO whom
were referred the memorials Of sundrY parties hold
ing claims against the Republic Of Venezuela, adju
dcated under the convention concluded between
the United States and that republic on the a6h OF
April. 1906
The memorlaists are citizens OF the United States,
10 whom the republic OF Venezuela has been debtor
upon claims which, IN part date back 70 the year
Among these, some are for war supplies furnished
mat country In It's struggle for Independence some
Tor personal services rendered the republic; some for
acts OF lorcoe appropriation OF property; some Tor
Violated contract with lts government and some for
tue more grave and solemn responsibilities incident
70 acts OF outrage and mnrder perpetrated upon cl
zens OF this country. hIN rsf a
Our government pressed the payment OF these
claims with patient perseverlng entroaty running,
as TO some through upwards Of forty years. but It's
opportunities were constantly met by adroit diplo-
matte evasion and procrastlnation. Feelings OF ior
healance inclined our government into q course Of
tenderness until the limits OF patience were reached.
inen, rather than resort ~ exped ents or menace
and iofce, 1t proposed mixed International COM
mission for the denitve adjudication OF the claims.
treaty carrying out the idea duly Negotiated be-
tw ca tine accredited representatives OF tho two
countries at Caracas on the 25th OF April, 1866.
The execution or this treaty was characterized
oy new and vexatous delays on the part OF
Venezuela: 1t required the ras!ieatoI Of both
,aaed II promptly on receipt Of the treaty at WASH
nkon; put u was not until the spring Of 1857. nor
part OF government, that the NATIONAL ie sature
o. venezuela TOOK action and accorded its latilca
BY the terms OF the treaty all claims pending IN
favor OF citizens Of the Uned States were to be sub
mltted 10 tribunal Of arbitration consisting OF a
commissioner from each country and an umpire to
be named By the diplomatic representative at Wash.
inston OF either switzerland or Russia.
BY act OF Congress or the UnlLed States OF July
20, 1867, provision was made 70 carry into
effect the treaty, and commissioner was ap
A Iya atlal m
venezuela, and after encounterlng long series OF
pallng delays, succeeded finally IN affecting an or
s sass II cSiaas a%Ds s sssn PGO aseoSa
stoeckl, The Russian Minister at washingt61.
The commission thus organized closed It's labors
claims amounting to s4s2s,2sS 81. o. these but
NE award 81 TIC umpire. Upwards OF three aud a
half million OF dollars claimed were disaliowed.
BY tine third article OF the treaty 1t was provided
The commissioners shall Issue certificates Of the be
paid 70 the claimants respectively by virtue of their deci
ali sums awarded BY he commissioner. and Of ali
Ss a. s s IS o 81 10
sums shall be made in equal annual payments to be COM
the he
aa o s a. h Of s p c 9e
per from the date of the termination Of the aoors OF
Pursuant TO this article the commission issued Ger.
tihcates TO the successful claimants, covering The
amounts awarded. and the records OF the comms-
sion, showing ali It's work and the testimony on
which the awards were founded, were reported 10
the state Departments OF the respective govern.
ments.
Two instruments OF principal and three OF interest
upon the awards nave matured, but the Venezuelan
nent, but manltests It's Intention evade payment
entirely by repudatng the work Oi the commission.
When the first iasalment fen due, in February,
| 1861 IN lieu OF forwarding the required
ceptions and objections 10 the Conduct OF
III tttrIeo IN
ment Of their awards In executing his MISSION his
entire case became the subject OF elaborate diplo
RES Seward ana washburne and each OF those Sec
retarie5 emphatically pronounced the pretextB set
se % and vaa To
however persisted In Its default and, in the
Of few months after the last letter from Secretary
| Washburne, permtel another instament Of into
| rest to mature and rest unpaid and unnotIced.
| The objections against the commission were not
again revived until IN the alI OF last year,
States Minister Partridge, VINO notiaed our
rou nd the IN was
specific charges accompanied by proofs, by a
limited time, or an abandonment Of al fur
Their complaint against the commission. Thus tn
yited the Venezuelan government mad o large mass
| OF testimony taken IN that country which 1t sent
| party ana fled in the State Department. and which
has since been laid before this House by the Secre-
Your committee have carefully examined this tes.
] tmony. 1t was taken manly TO mpeach the con.
dnct Of the American coiinlssioner, am as 10 MIN
upon the part of the oreigu witnesses TO dltort and
color testimony. IL is, therefore, surprising to your
committee how feeble and lnconclusive a case has
been made out against the party sought 10 DO
| eliminated. The gentleman in question as well as
| Others implicated, has been permitted to he heard
in defence by your committee; and their regulation
| has been made supplement- 10 the testimony ,ur-
nIsned ny venezaeia Your Gomnttee aer iall
| charges against the commission are not substan-
tiaied, and thai there Is nothing IN the testimony
Nvhfp Qffa tnlt n if,.
| awards.
The memorolists urge with stress the hardships OF
their casethelr awards dishoDored, and discourage
| ment added to disappointment. they invoke their
government In its paterna character and ask that
the treaty with Venezuela shall be made eGeclual to
their benefit, and that they shah not be subjected
| TO further wrong or delay. The duty OF our
government to esponse and protect the rights OF Its
citizens IN all Just demands against foreign powers
Is conceded, and IL Is considered by your committee
| that the present case Is one which very properly
appeals to the interpretation and aid OF the country.
The claimants, as has been before stated are Gil.
| zens Of our nation, and their demands have been
| deinitiyey adjudicated under solemn convention
| with the debtor republic. To permit that republic
now 70 tribe with ITS obligations would be trinng on
our part In duty to those Of our own allegiance
We must see that thev suffer no harm II we desire
| TO uphold the paterna protectorshlp which above
all things endears government TO Its subjects and
diynifes 1t In the eye Of the world
In view OF the premises, therefore, the committee
report the accompanying joint resolutions the pas
sage Of which they respectfully recommend. II will
be noticed that provision is made for the protection
OF certain claims due American citizens which were
adJudlcateu ana acknowledged due Dy the VeneZuc-
| Ian government prior to the mixed commission.
These amount In gross Of principal and interest TO
about $11o,o oo and mainly consist of balances For
| number OF years oil payment upon these has been
suspended, ard although they have not the sanction
OF national treaty. as those adjudcated by the
mixed commission, 1t has been thought by your
committee that they are none the less worthy OF the
interference OF our country.
JOINT REBoLUTIoN ENrORcR THE sTIpULATIoNs OF
THE CONVENTION WITH vESEzUBLA OF AprrL Is, 1896
/ AND THE PAYMENT OF ADJUDICATED =. :
Whereas convention duly concluded 2sth day
of April 1865 United Of America ana the
republic of Vensxueia the claims of cit
ssns the United States against said republic n
commission assembled at the city OF Caracas which ndjud
Gated said claims and allowed the the amount of
3o33l0 and whereas tho third said convention
provides that the commissioners shall issue certificates OF
the be paid the clnmants by virtue