New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-07
THE VENEZUELAN A WARDS.
CHARGES AGAINST MINISTER soTELDo.

PROMISED THE PROTECTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT
If HE WOULD BUY THE CLAIMS CHEAP.
C.Y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUSE]
WAsUIyGTON, Feb 6.-Au attempt is making
TO defeat the ratification by Senate Of treaty en-
tered into by United States and the Government Vi
Venezuela the reOpening Of the awards mace uher
the Commission 1868. Charges have been heu WI"
the Senate Committee Foreign Affairs against 0eno
A. NJ Soteldo the Venezuelan Minister here. Who 1t 10
said has bought the certificates Issued oy tue |iai"
I'm settlement OF the awards made Dy H. NJ
greatly reduced rates with view to realizing manu-
some profit the transaction. Letters IL Is sa'" "
ouoted from Senior soteldo to a friend in New-iork
which tend to confirm the charges Az inc
haitian, NJ the entire business Is GraDnOn Kennedy,
New.York lawyer, largely Interested In the se''ee
these claims, who has previously figured III at'ep', "
compel the distribution awards under the Venezuelan
Commission Committees Of both houses nave repV"
edy reported in favor of a reopening OF the "hoo ~
Ter In the second session OF the last congress MI
Of Massachusetts,. brought in such report Senator
Iapham at about the same time subinitteh Shia
port in the President Arthur In one OF MS a'
uual messages recommended that new commission DO
created TO retry The same ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WAS made by some OF his predecessors
The manner in which Mr. Stillweil. the American
member of the old commission. and relative ofhis VINO
figured ms another member OF this body managed 10 u
inst claims origin Ally amounting 70 about S3OOoOo Oh
basis of a million and quarter, has been one Vi 'n
mysteries which 1t has always seemed desrapo " o
IN so general has been the conviction that tne'o
claims are tainted with fraud that 1t compelea tue WIZ"
drawa by his own party the Late Godove s. Orth as
candidate for Governor of Indiana becau he WAS De-
lieved manner to be interested IN them. oenor
soeldo in his own defence the charges made by Ken
needy.
About three years ago Grannon Kennedy protesting
to represent the holders OF certificates ls'neu u! lo
cnss ON abe proposition TO mo TO settle ihe "hoie
matter by recommending to my government inc pur-
/ .taa an
spondence with Kennedy at first; but being urea Oh
wing TINS endless bone Of contention between the ~
countries constant obstacle to our commercial rea-
tons thought that II tie certificates couu DO p,I
chased for sam ven auGa t6G bny them and to settle
the matter With this IN view wrote several ~,
| a friend, VINO knew Kennedy, aud a amount uon
| exactly remember what-was fixed upon between us !;
hut in reporting the matter to my government tounn
that il did not enter into tue pan hcarty ~ ~ y
| no conclusions reached year ago lnc iunee'
was again taken up by The state d
luton agreed upon by secretary trellhghll sen a
self was sent the Senate providing IOr VI
ali the claims by new commission tSeSe franduent
through the influence OF the holders OF uhe tN
aud clause was Inserted IN tne agrteient
allowing all claims OF third parties not ~ ~
frau iuient awar OF original commission on their
! face value winch | could not agree TO- -, 49,,
been c1uSpred against by Kennedy and his party
Ny friend to me stating that Mr. hehneug , mnI
nrocurei copeS all letters on the SUBJECT Whc
we're colh rnia between my friend ana my seil' h,u
requesting that return the propositions ara pns
to DO and the step taken by MI Kennedy ~ ~
them produces my letters do not know exactly with
VIII am ch0r"ed briore the senate Committee. hut
wnnteyer n is nm confident that have actet hohor
ably aS my cOrrespOnucuce with the state department
viii show and an investigation will but lead TO my
| thorough yindicatlon
senior sotedo is well known In Washington whete ID"
ENJOYS great popularity. lie is an American citzen'
and has large business interests In this country ho
caue Ia the United States abOu' fourteen years ago
! He was n member OF that Inflated NeneLnlah SenaIe
which was massacred almost to man by reioIutohdry
trn,ns W no entered galleries OF the On imDer ana
Oprued fire the senators DeIOW. oehVi 0oVoi"O ~
| of the few who escaped.
Mr. Kennedy the holders or the certlh'ales
IN vers.tOu with TRIBUNE c"rresponneht
snid IN the IeDOrt that he had charged MT SOlc'do ~
Ian Minister, with personal dishonesty was u'
trne His charge is that Mr. SOtedo while tyinE 10 ger
the award asid, at the same Time euEageu u
der from the Venezuelan government n
trying TO Dny up the DE- preciated certificates a. ,,,
Mr. Soteld0 informed the Senat. through 'lE hI-
Ter an New.York that he has letters written by the MIN
lister OF Venezuela IN behalf Of his Government III Nte
confidence TO a merchant In New-YJrk asking nm 10
buy mn the certificates The following Is an extract ro
| one of these letters 4:
eff YOU could the whole Sl,Zo3,3lO 50 OF ven,
ezIelean awards at 40 per cent computing IN thls nv
the paid say 20 per cent Will engage W get 'o
| thing done at once
The Minister ID written only few days previously
bout the 81 2j3 900 Venezuelan Fraudulent AWARDS
pardon the pain talk which have contested an WIN
IL that If they could he purchased oy you a.
"A very reasonable figure, would have my Governments
TO protect you - ..,..
Mr. Kennedy says that he has nothing TO say against
Mr. soteido personally. but he thinks tnat the attempt
! of the Venezuelan Government secretly 10 purchase
these certificates deprecdtns their Vaue ~ ae
Claring that they frauduen and openly hegotlau
t. Get them aside l. uudplomatlc ana improper
not positively infamous"