Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-19

minister, AZ tne OTueT VI eAcAA ~
spective governments, for the arrange
ment of the German claims consequent
on the civil war of 1892. Nor can inn
portance be given to the other objec-
ton of the Venezuelan government,
that diplomatic defense of the pres
ent claims is inadmissible because an
adequate road to settlement is open
by the decree of the Gath of January,
1901. since the proceedings provided for
by the decree do not constitute guar
anty for just solution of those claims
Gas has been repeatedly said to the
| Venezuelan government, firstly, claims
anterior to the 23d of May, 1899 (Which
/ "a the date of the rising headed by the
present president of the republic), are
! excluded. while Venezuela will nat
uraHy have to answer for the acts in
forming governmsnts. Secondly all
diplomatic intervention against rero-
buttons or by commission, we must ex-
clude, appeal to the federal high court
/ being alone permitted. In spite OF
this, however, as has been seen, there
| were some cases where judicial en-
ployes depended on the Venezuelan
| government and when occasion has
arisen they have been deprived OF their
offices without formality.
sFinally, the payment of any claims
which a commission might allow was to
be effected with certificates of new
debt of the revolution. to be created
for that purpose. which, from what has
been seen hitherto, would scarcely
have value. In fact, the procedure en-
ployed by thu: Venezuelan government
has not led to satisi ia .-.ory solution OF
the claims. In particular the -" oef.
man claims which would be presented
to the commission have been, in part,
unseemly refused, in part reduced, evil
IDENTIFY an arbitrary manner and even
the recognized claims have not been
paid. but the injured parties have been
asked to submit to project of law
to 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 to examine its subjects claims
and Immediately present to the vene-
zueian government those which were
found justified. 1t is true that after
wards the Venezuelan government
raised the possibility of obtaining
favorable solution by congress, but
the law which was sanctioned by con-
gress at the beginning of the year only
repeats the insufficient provisions of
the decree of the oath of January, 1901.
Besides it only comprises claims which
could not be duly presented to com.
mission.
afterwards the Venezuelan govern
ment conducted its correspondence in
an almost offensive tone and finally
published the notes referred to among
which We're some marked 'confiden-
tlal.' without the consent of the i'm
Perial government, accompanying |
them with memorandum couched in |
offensive terms.
I'm spite of the sincerity of the de-
sire which animates the imperial gov
eminent to maintain existing good re-
iations with Venezuela. and although
far from desiring not to respect the
sovereignty of the republic or to in
termeddle in its interior institutions,
it can only see in the proceedings en-
ployed by the Venezuelan government
an intention to deny to the German
claims the settlement due them in con-
formity with international law. It
therefore believes itself compelled to
contribute in definite manner to their
immediate satisfaction. The imperial
government has, consequently, in
structed me to pray the Venezuelan
government to satisfy without delay
the German credits which, according
to my note of the 31st of December
last, amount to 1,71s,S15 bolivars CT
centimes. Furthermore. the manner
in which German claims consequent
on the war have been treated by the
government of the republic has led the
imperial government to think that
other claims Of its subjects against the
republic also stand in need of support.
To arrive at just conclusion, there
fore, German claims consequent on
the present civil war and the credits
of German houses occasioned by the
construction of the slaughter house
at Caracas and the amount due the
great Venezuelan railroad for interest
and amortization scrip of the five per
cent. Venezuelan loan of 1890, which
were delivered in redemption of a
guaranty of interest, must be cousid.
cred in the same light.
by order of the imperial govern
ment have to ask the venezuelan gov
eminent to make declaration inn
mediately that it recognizes in princi-
pie the correctness of these demands
and is willing to accept the decision
of mixed commission with the oh.
ject of having them determined and,
assured in all their details. The I'm
perial government hopes the govern
ment of the republic will satisfy the
just demands Of Germany and not
obige the imperial government itself
to enforce their satisfaction. At the
same time the imperial government
thinks 1t should not omit to mention
that it has been informed by the Brit
ish government Of its claims against
Venezuela. The two governments have
agreed to proceed Jointly to obtain sat-
isfaction of all demands.
(6igned)
won PILGRIM-BALTAZZI,
German Charge D'Affaires."
The above documents have not been
made public in Venezuela.
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