The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-23

New York, June 21.-Herbert W.
Bowen, formerly minister to Venezue-
ia, today made public long statement
i'll reply to President Roosevelts letl
ter dismissing him from the diplomatic
service.
Mr.. Bowen declares that the Venc-
Zuelan scandal constitutes "a national
disgrace" He asserts that 1.-The Loom
is scandal'' pervaded Caracas and con-
stantly ''grew worse and worse"
Mr.. Bowen says that shortly after
he called the matter to the attention OF
the department of state he received q
cable offer from Washington of diplo-
matte promotion that could remove him
from Caracas.
II admit" he declares, that | re-
sarded the offer as an attempt to bribe
me, yelled under the offer of higher
position, and inspired by Mr.. Loomis.
I make no doubt that In the course OF
the recent inquiry it has been suffi.
GENTLY plain that I did not think Mr..
Loomis an honest man, and that did
| not believe his conduct as minister to
Venezuela had been honorable"
When he went to Venezuela in 1901
| as successor to Mr. LOOMS, Mr.. Bowen
declares he found current rumors se-
| riously affecting the honor and integ-
| rity of his predecessor, both as a man
and as representative of the United
States government. Epitomizing the
rumors Mr.. Bowen says:
| "Mr. LOOmis, while minister, was re-
ported to have used his public position
| to. fill his private purse by obtaining
| interests in concessions and in various
claims against the Venezuelan govern
| ment."
/ He was commonly thought also to
| have been in the pay of the BermudeZ
Asphalt Company, and to have made
use of his own official position to give
color to the belief tnat the United
States government was especially IA
vorable to the side Of that company IN
i its controversy with the Venezuelan
authorizes"
/ Referring to the documents left by
his predecessor in the legation at Cara
cas- and forwarded by Mr.. Bowen to
i the state department, the latter says.
Il cannot better express my OWL
J feelings in regard to their contents
than in the words of the secretary OF
, state who, In his letter acknowledg
ing their receipt, said: Il have beer
greatly surprised and pained in read
ing the documents you sent me-
Mr.. Bowen tells of sending to ths
state department information of the
report current in Caracas, that IAN In
| eliminating check to Mr. Loomfs and
letter from him to the governmental
custodian of the Asphalt Compan,
, property promising that the United
States would not intervene in Vene
zuela were in the hands of one %
PRESIDENT Castro's friends"
After his refusal to leave Caracas
l Mr. Bowen says there began to appeal
{ from Washington such false and mis-
leading statements in our papers a.
Bowen has asked to be recalled; b.
wants TO sever diplomatic relation
: with Venezuela; he advises that ma
: val demonstration be made in Vene
I Zuelan waters; he is at swords point
with Castro" False reports of thi
sort are ordinarily contradicted by th
the department Of state, he says. I'll
{ this instance they were not"
I With regard to the Mercado ciair
u Mr.. Bowen gives the text of d lette
{ which was among the papers he foun
: il, the legation archives. This letter
o addressed to W. ". Russell and says
Dear Sir: In reference to the por
C ton of Mr. MercadO's claim which
u bought, I want to state thar-tne onl
terms of settlement which / will al
cept other than a full cash payment G
about 30,4O0 bolivars In gold, are tn
Ii following:
r "I will accept 10000 bolivars in sol
: and 1O,4O0 bolivars in salt bonds q
= the rate of 81 per cent, or per cen
IS below the quoted market rate. pr
ID vided it does not go below so per cen
Il, (Signedl VERY truly,
:. "F B. LOOMIS."
/. Mr.. Bowen underIines the wore