The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-20
Denial of the Charge that President
Castro's Government Was Insolent
Toward Diplomats.
ALLEGED GERMAN OUTRAGE
VENEZUELAN ACCOUNT OF THE
wRECKING OF A SCHOONER.
Captain Given Ten Minutes to Leave
His Shfp-Provisions of the Block
ade Which Il Effective Tonight.

CARACAS, Dec 19.-The correspondent
here of the Associated Press has obtained
a copy of the answer made by the Vene-
zuelan government to the German note ad-
dressed to Lopez Beralt Venezuelan minis
ter of foreign affairs. by Herr Won Pilgrim
Baltazzi, the German envoy. 1t is dated
Caracas, Dec. Z. This answer was trans
mitted by the Foreign Office to Herr Won
Pilgrim Baltazzi on Dec. g. the Sth inst.
being a feast day. 1t is signed by Lopez
Baralt and is as follows:
"Sir-On the afternoon of the 7th inst,
a feast day, an employe of the German
legation called at my private residence for
the purpose of delivering note from you
of that date Courtesy alone caused me
to accept this note under such circum-
stances.
Il think it is necessary, before stating
the purposes and desires of the federal
executive, to refer to certain points in the
first portion of your note which are sub
ject TO ratification. in order to reconcile
the essential object of the note with the
circumstances of the case. The argument
which the Venezuelan government recited
in its communication of May 8. in which
exception was taken to all the doctrine set
forth in the preceding correspondence, is
cited in said note as the only argument of
the Venezuelan government against diplo-
matte interference in matters of a certain
nature within this note, as in the MEM
orandum of March, 1901. this argument is
based on the highest principles of inter-
national law.
The Venezuelan government perceives
with the utmost surprise that you attribute
to Ii desire to consider this point only
in the light of interior legislation. BY
citing in our note of May 3 Of this year
the twentieth article of the treaty of amity,
commerce and navigation between the Ger
man government and the Republic and Co.
lombia on the sd of July, 1892. our only de-
sire was to add another proof TO those al
ready brought forward with regard to the
| assent of the imperial government to this
same doctrine. maintained by Venezuela
Certain cases are now cited as precedents
TO enter into diplomatic relations to effect
| a settlement These cases explain them
| selves. The payment of certain credits
relating TO remote epochs were adjusted
with France. and the doctrine maintained
| by Venezuela was then respected. In the
convention concluded with Spain in 1856
there appears simple effect of circum-
| stances analogous TO those which deter
| mine what you yourself call the "agree-
| ment of the 9Th of February, 1896, between
| the German minister at Caracas and the
Venezuelan minister ofAfinance.' The said
/ agreement referred to claims which pre-
viously had been classified by the proper
/ Juata, and in this agreement the validity
I or the executive decree which provided
regulations for the examination and pay.
ment of said claims is recognized and said
claims were satisfied i'm accordance with
| the law on the subject.
! Your observation with regard to the
strict limitation of time in which the pro-
/ ceedings are TO be brought before the junts
are entirely wanting in force. owing To the
operation of the general establishing means
to take measures against this government
i Regarding the morality of the judges il is
not possible to admit the partiality attrib-
uted To them by the imperial legation. Tn,
| Venezuelan government believes that the
| act OF Congress which your note qualities
| are nugatory to be In consonance with the
| princi les of equity. and that, being retro
| active, Ii tends further TO smooth over the
| difficulties.
discover in its correspondence single sen
| tence offensive In tone. The desire OF thi:
1 government, Notwithstanding the fact thai
throughout this correspondence IL ha.
| noted the expression of opinions littl.
| friendly to this republic, Is 10 ascertain
which sentences contain the slightest of
fense To the imperial government in ordel