The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-22

After asserting that the protocol as sent
was drawn by the lawyer Of the asphalt
company, MIR. Bowen continues:
The. impression 1t caused in Caracas
was the same as the impression produced
on the United States by tho report that the
Venezuelan tribunals are controlled by out
side influences. And when, shortly after
the detailed circumstantial statements
current In Caracas that check and letters
showing improper dealings between Mr..
LOOMS and the asphalt company had come
into President Castro's control, and this
was followed by cabled offer from Wash.
remove. me from Caracas. admit that
regared the offer as an attempt to bride
me, yelled under an order of higher pc.
sition and inspired by Mr. LOOMS. make
no doubt that in the course Of the recent
inquiry 1t has been sufficiently plain that
j did not think Mr.. Loomis an honest man
and that did not believe that his conduct
as Minister to Venezuela had been honor
able.
The statement that attempted to steal
or otherwise improperly procure informa-
ton is unwarranted. l made use OF con
offices in Venezuela. The State Depart.
ment on at least two occasions provided
me with money to procure secret informa-
ton.
DOES NOT REGARD LOOMS AS HONEST.
am perfectly aware that Mr.. LOOMS
knows that do not regard him az honest,
and that ! believe his influence as acting
head of the Department has been used
70 remove me from the diplomatic service
know that an effort has been nadn to show
that l was in some way an inStigator OF
false aspersions against the character and
conduct Of Mr., LOOMS. when the fact was
that Mr.. Loomss name WAS not likely to
be heard In Caracas without some mention
of his alleged bad character. While the
recent inquiry was going on in Washington
| received letter from Capt. Parker, our
49, 1905, saying: Il see LOOMS has denied
everything. l lunched with Mr.. Wallace
the other day and he told me that LOOMS.
himself. and third party. whose name
purchase Of the Mercado claim, and that
everybody knew It,"
am neither responsible for Mr. Loomiss
unsavory reputation In Caracas nor for
the circulation OF scandalous reports about
him. He established his reputation him
Lister from 1897 to April, 1901, and the state
ments charging him with dishonest and
dishonorable conduct were made with such
detail OF circumstances that mere denial
by me was useless; What, was needed
was not their denial, but their disproof
admit that after I found. in February.
1904, in the legation archives the documents
that transmitted to the State Department
In Washington | believed MIR. LOOMS TO
be dishonest man. l admit that after |
received no explanation of these docu-
ments, and no further investigation was
made, though reported the scandal to
be still current in Caracas and most EN-
barrassing to the interests Of the United
States. my belief in Mr.. LOOMS dishonesty
was not diminished.
MINISTER'S INTEREST IN MERcApo CLAIM.
The Mercado claim, in which Mr.. LOOMS
was financially interested, was against
the Venezuelan Government. Mr., B wen
says he found in the legation archives in
February. 1904, this letter. which he for
warded T. the State Department the italics
being his
LEoAr1oS OF THE UNITED STATES.
- CARACAS. Aug. 20, 1900
DEf4n Sin; In reference to the portion Of
Mr., Mercado's claim rhirh | bow0h'.. ! want
which viii viii accept ' other thar fuii cash
payment of about 10000 bolivars IN gold.
are the following: | will accept 10000 bolt
at the rat OF 50 per cent. or per cent below
the quoted market rate. provided i, does not
go below so per cent Very Truly oo,rs
ca: an q bonds to ny 'red', Tih i / BooI-
received for Mr. F b LOOMS the ainonnt
Of 10000 boivars in cash and 1000 bonds OF
the salt, amount which have th, day de- ,
CARACAS. Sept 81, 1900 \ JArRETT
PROFITS OF oNE-sEvESTH OF TEN MILLIONS. |
Still another letter was from Charles r.
Mayers:
LEGATION Of rnF INITEn STATES
SAiA AS 'enr@ 1eia u!> D. t""u
Francis b. LOonis. nittd states Legation, !
DEAR SIR; In consideration Of tic services
the matter OF SO r s the my for
the Government of Venezuela |
With loan I" refund or convert cert1in OF !
hat it is agreed and understood by me and ,
ny associates that YOU are TO receive one |
OF the gross proilt5 when thr c"ntrHct
mated. which may. he real lied b. us on this ,
as whole and on all of its parts /
estimated at about slo,ooo,ooo II is further /
and desired by us that YOU shall |
continue to render ls all the assistance you
can while in Caracas till the trans
lction Is brought to conclusion and the loan
July ratified and issued. 1t is also Luder-
stood that YOU will havea general supervision
n Caracas of any publication We may deem
7 necessary to have in connection with the
proposed bond issue.
Mr.. LOOMS explains" continues Mr..
5owen, that If this contract, VIII, h was to
1--WE him million and a quarter. had gone
through he intended to resign"
In conclusion Mr.. Bowen says: "'The
conduct Of the man who a. American Min
ster was willing to participate in such trans
,ctions as the foregoing ia considered by |
his official superior merely indisareet'
md he is retained in the public service
my personal fate and fortune are Of slight /
interest to the public. But it does conoern
he whole country that its diplomatic repre-
,entatives abroad should he men Of clean
,haracter and unsulied reputation. and |
very American citizen should be especially
when a man who a. Minister TO
foreign State, has been the cause Of grave
,cancials affecting his personal integrity ,
md the honor Of his Government is pro-
noted to the high office If First Assistant
Secretary of State and controls important
,egotiations with the very Government ,
1t whose capital no caused the scandals
md gained n tainted reputation.
Mr., Bowen said in conversation that he I
bought when he was SUNNI oncd to Wash .
ngton that he was being called to answer
'harges that he had provoked the scandal /
" giving information concerning II to news
paper correspondents.
Accordingly" he raid, II left Caracas |
he very day was SUNNI oned. instead Of /
remaining two weeks longer. a. | was ut
liberty to do. Had ] known I would he |
,alled upon to prove the accusations that |
we're being openly made against Mr., LOOMS |
n Venezuela. I would have used that time /
verv rroitablv in collecting evidence.
Secretary Taft. in conducting the hear
Ing, acted not only ma the trial Judge, but