The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-08
MINISTER RUSSELL'S C.ISL.
He IL 10 Return Immediately 10 Caracas and
then Tender his Re.iunatIon.

WASHINGTON, Feb THE prolonged and
vexed diplomatic discussion respecting the
summary dismissal of Mr. Thomas Russell, our
Minister at Caracas. by the Venezuelan Gov
eminent. which has been going on for nearly a
year. has at length terminated. The difficulty
originated in the publication Of Mr.. Russel's
confidential correspondence with Secretary
Fish. which the latter transmitted to the House
in the first session Of the Forty-fourth Con-
gress in response to n resolution calling for all
papers having reference to the awards of the
Mixed Commission whose shameless frauds
have since become 80 notorious Several Of
Mr. Russel's dispatches contained serious i'm
putations upon the integrity of the officers Of
the Governmentto which he was accredited. In
one dated May 1870 referring TO the means the
United States should adopt to secure payment
of the awards of the commission. he saws:
feel bound 10 add that there in my opinion only
S attained Ths NH. nv .harins an nr se' w,i
SINE 81 the chief ofncers Of tiis Go,rrnment Tbe
.eco hya i.piay or at hast threat lorce. Tho
wIofcour-c never be- followed by III, rnitei states
when the Venezuelan Government read
the-" Offensive reflections, Mr.. Russell was in
formed mat srii-r"spcrt prohibited further in
t.rcourse with hum, and Tint he would no
longer receive on. ial recognition, Mr.. liusrell
forthwith returned 10 the United States our
GuN"rnmeut at on" protested agains the action
a. Venezuela as II wa- against nil precedent.
While not denying that th" language used by
Mr.. Russell toward the Venezuelan Gov
eminent would have fully warranted
the hitter ia demanding his recall. yet
the United States could not tolerate such n yo-
latlon Of diplomatic usage AS Venezuela had
been guilty Of in summary Diminishing Mr..
Russell without first consulting or advising
with this Government. Venezuela urged that
it, course was justified by the unprecedented in
suit that had been offered 10y Mr.. Russell. and
p"remptorly refused to receive him hnrk. Mr..
Eynrts remained firm in his ultimntum. which
was that the United States would no. bee satisfied
with anything short OF Mr.. Russells return 10
Cara ms and his recognition ~ our Minister.
Aiier that was done, the demand Of Venezuela
Cor his recall would be considered. hut not he-
fore. \ fire OF diplomatic notes between Mr..
FVnr'- and senior Dalla Costa. the Venezuelan
Then Mr.. Russell assisted in solving the prob
lem 10y rendering his resignation. To take eil'r Z
upon the presentation Of his letter of recall 10
the Venezuelan Governments II has, therefore.
been arranged that Mr.. Russell Is 10 return T.
CaracuS to present his letter Of recall. and ne III
10 start 10 do So in day or two.
Although absent from his post. and idle
for over n year. Mr.. Russell has been draw
ing his salary nl the time. His friends
blame Secretary Fish for making "a victim of
Mr. Russell in his hot-headed 2nal 70 sustain
Mixed Commission. iva whose awards they
allege some of F.h- friends were Interested
There WAC certainly no excuse for milking pub
li' the confidential d'-nnf'no- nf Mr. Russell
The terms OF the resolution calling for the
papers dat Il April 49, 1876. expressly contained
the uruVlso " II not incompntlh" with the publ,
interest and nothing rhu he more So than tn
publication OF conf -lrnia diplomatic de-
spatrhoS between our Ministers abroad and IN,
circumstances MIR, Russell IL 10 be appointed I,
d N nI