The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-12-19

Venezuelan government are not cor
rect that foreign claims consequent
On Venezuelan civil wars have never
tecn arranged by diplomatic course.
for, before. like arrang which
Venezuela concluded with France. in
lss5. aud with Spain. in ls9s. a formal
agreement was signed on the 9th OK
February, 1896. between the German
minister al Caracas and the Nenezue-
Ian minister. at the order of their re-
spective governments, for the ar
rangement Of German claims eonse-
quent on the civil war OF is9s. Nor
can importance be given TO the other
objection OF the Venezuelan govern
rlent, that diplomatic defense of the
present claims is inadmssible. be-
cause an adequate road 70 settle
ment is open by the decree Of the
gath of January. 1901, since the pro
ceedings provided for BY the decree
do not constitute a guaranty for g
just solution OF those claims.
AS has been repeatedly said 10 the
Venezuelan government. firstly
claims anterior TO the card II May
1890. (Which is the date Of the rising
headed by the present president OF
the republic) are excluded. while
Venezuela viii naturally have 70 an
swer for the acts IN forming govern
ments. Secondly. all diplomatic inter
vention against revolutions or by
commission we must exclude. appea
20 the federal high court being alone
permitted. In spite of this. however
IS has been seen. there were some
cases where judicial employees de
pended on the Venezuelan govern.
ment, and when occasion has arisen
they have been deprived of their Of
fees without formality.
Finally, she payment Of any claims
which "A commission might allow was
10 be affected with certificates Of a
new debt of the revolution. 10 be
created for that purpose. which. from
what has been seen hitherto. would
scarcely have value. In fact, tie
procedure employed by the Nenezue
Ian government has not led to sat
isfactory solution of the claims. III
particular, the few German claims
which would be presented to the com
mission have been. in part, unseemlN
refused. in part reduced. evidently in
arbitrary manner and even the rec.
ognized claims have not been paid
but the injured parties have been
asked 10 submit to project Of law
10 be submitted TO congress. After
the failure of several attempts to in.
duce the government of the republic
to modify the decree in said points
the imperial government has been
obliged itself 70 examine its subjects
claims and Immediately present ~
the Venezuelan government those
which were found justified II is true
that afterward the Venezuelan gov
ernment raised the possibility IF OBJ
tanning favorable solution by con
gress. but the law whic; was sane
toned by congress al the beginning
of the year only repeat the insult
fcient provisions OF the Sacree IF the
oath of January. 1901. Besides II only
comprises claims which could not he
duly presented TO commission.
afterwards the Venezuelan gov
eminent conducted is correspond
ence in an almost offensive tons. and
finally published the notes referred
to, among which were some marked
confidential without the consent of
the imperial government, accompany
ing them with memorandum
couchel in offensive terms.
'In spite of the sincerity Of the de-
sire which animates the imperial gov
eminent to maintain existing good re
lations with Venezuela and. although
far from desiring not to respect the
sovereignty Of The republic or 10 in
termeddle in its interior institutions.
IL can only see in the proceedings en-
ployed by the Venezuelan govern
mcnt an intention to deny 20 the
German claims the settlement due
them in conformity with internation-
al law. IL. therefore. believe. itself
compelled to contribute in . cefinite
manner to their immediate ss-tisfac-
tion.
The imperial government HIS con-
sequently instructed me 10 pray the
Venezuelan government - ~ati-fy,
without decay. the German credits
which, according TO my note Of the
3lst Of December last. amount TO L.
7ls,si5 bolivars. 90 cenfimes. Fprther-
more. the manner in which German
claims consequent on the war have
been treated by the government of
the republic has led tho impcrisl gov
eminent 10 think that other claims
Of its subjects against the r, pubic
also stand in need Of support
ITO arrive at a Just conc nsion
therefore German claims consequent
on the present civil war. arl the
credits Of German houses occaSioned
by the construction Of the slaughter
hoase NJ Caracas. and the amount due
the great Venezuelan railroad for in
tcstest and amortization scrip Of the
five per cent. Venezuelan loan
% 1896. which were delivered In re-
dsmption Of guaranty Of interest,
must be considered ia the same light
"Hy order of the imperial govern
trent ] have to ask the Venezuelan
market to make n declaration imme-