The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
DepOSed Minister Issues a
Statement Declaring That
the venezuelan Scandal
is a National Disgrace"
CRITICIZES COURSE
OF THE PRESIDENT
mo Officer, However High,
Should Shelter a Wrong
dOer" He Says in an
Address to the Public


missing him from the diplomatic service.
as a result OF the investigation made by
Secretary Taft into the controversy be-
tween Bowen and Francis B. Loomis,
First Assistant Secretary Of State
Bowen declares that the venezuelan
scandal constitutes a national disgrace"
He asserts that "the Loomie scandal
pervaded Caracas and constantly grew
worse and worse" Bowen says that short
ly after he called the matter to the at
tention OF the Department OF State he re-
ceived a cable offer from Washington Of
diplomatic promotion that would remove
him from Caracas.
Il admit" he declared. that 1 regard
ed the offer as an attempt TO bribe me,
veiled under the offer OF q higher position
and inspired by Loomis. / make no doubt
that, in the course OF the recent inquiry.
IL has been sufficiently plain that / did
not think that Loomis was an honest
man and that I did not believe his con-
duct as minister 10 Venezuela had been
honorable"
Bowen says that the recent depart
mental inquiry should not prevent "an
open, impartial. fearless and thorough
investigation into all the facts"
Suppression of truth will never estao-
lish IL" he adds. Tolerance OF evil
VIII never crush il. No officer, however
high. should shelter a wrongdoer.
RUMORs RIFE IN CARACAS.
When he went to Venezuela as sue
cessor 10 Loomis, Bowen declares. he
found current rumors seriously affecting
the honor and integrity Of his predeces-
sor. both as & man and as a representa-
tive Of the United States Government
Bowen says that. feeling sense OF pride
in representing the United States, these
rumors were source of continual morti-
flea ton to him. Epitomizing the rumorss
Bowen says:
Mr.. Loomis, while Minister. was reported
70 have used his public position 70 i'll his pri-
vate purse by obtaining interests in conces-
sioRs and in various claims against the Nenez-
Delan Government He was commonly thought,
also, 10 have been in the pay OF the Bermudez
Asphalt Company and 10 have made use of his
nef that the United States Government was
especially favorable 70 the contention OF that
company in its controversy with the Venezue-
Ian Government i had no means OF refuting
these scandalous statements. Their substan-
tial truth assumed by my diplomatic col
leagues. as well as by the general public at
Referring TO the documents left by his
predecessor in the legation at Caracas
and forwarded by Bowen to the State
Department. the latter says:
cannot better express my own feelings in
regard TO their contents than in the words Of
the Secretary Of State. who. IN his letter
knowledging their receipt, said: Il have been
Erestly surprised and pained in reading the
OFFERED A PROMOTION.
Bowen tells of having sent to the State
Department information OF the report
current in Caracas that an incriminat-
ing check TO Loomis and a letter from
him 10 the Governmental custodian OF the
asphalt property, promising that the
United States would not intervene IN
Venezuela, were IN the hands Of one of
President Castro'e friends" He con-
tinues:
Shortly afterwsrd I received q cable from
the State Department. Offering 70 me the
position which was intended to be q stepping
stooe to an Enthusiastically II seemed to me
that. under the circumstances, my duty TO the
United States demanded that 7 should stay.
for the present at least. in Caracas. and de-
clined the otter, personally advantageous as II
20 myself.
Currently with the report in Caracas that
President Castro had possession of documents
directly discriminating the First Assistant Sec
retarT of State. President Castro dispatched
general agent to Washington. Concurrently
with my refusal 20 leave my post at Caracas
there began 10 appear from Washington such
false and misleading statements In our papers
ss Bowen has asked 10 be recalled he wants
90 sever diplomatic relations with Venezuela
he ADVISES that q naval demonstration may
be made immediately in Venezuelan waters: he
ts at swords points with Castro" False re-
ports OF this sort are ordinarily contradicted
by the Department OF state In this instance
they were not Any one at all familiar with
diplomatic relations with Venezuela will un-
oerstand without further explanation the mani
After referring to the appearance of
the Loomis charges in several papers,
Bowen says:
To Say that instigsted these charges is the
product OF q heated Imagination
~ was s. rght after this that ! was summoned
oy the state Department to Washington and a
departmental inquiry was made into Mr.
Loomis conduct In Venezuela and was dis
neither responsible for Mr. Loonis' unsavory r,,
reputation In Caracas for the Circulation
lished the reputation himself while living there
as American Minister from 1897 10 April 1901
honest and dishonorable conduct were made
with such detail OF circumstances that mere
%as not their dsns sut tssr sst wss needed
admit that after I found. in February 1904
IN me aesston srceyes the documents that
ington believed Mr.. Joomis 10 be dishonest
man I admit that after received no ex-
investigation was made. though ] reported the
scandal 70 be stilI current in Caracas and
United states. nv belief in Mr. ftoonss' 5,se sne
honesty was not diminished.
ALLEGES ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY.
Bowen says he regards his ofrer of a
promotion as an attempt to bribe him.
He adds:
The statement that I attempted to steal or
otherwise improperly procure information is
onvarTanteo. made use of confidential agents
only eno OF our consular officers in Venezuela
The State Department at least two occa-
sions provided me with money to procure
secret Information
With regard to the Mercado claim
Bowen gives the text of a letter which
was among the papers he found in the
legation archives. This letter IS ad-
dressed 10 w. w. Russell. and says:
Dear Sir: In reference to the portion of
Mr Aercado's claim which I bought I want
20 state that the only terms of settlement
which will accept other than a full cash pay
ment OF about 30. 400 bolivars in gold are the
foilowirE: i VIII accept 20 600 boliyars fn
gold and l04o0 boliyars in salt bonds at the
rate OF 81 per cent or per cent below the
quoted market rate provided II does not ro
below 90 per cent?. Very truly. %
F. B. LOOMS
Bowen underlines the words (which 7
bought in the letter. He also gives the
text Of a letter from Charles r. Mayers.
addressed 70 Francis b. Loomis. and re-
ferring TO services rendered by Loonnis ir,
securing a contract for furnishing a loan