The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-04-03

Reviews Difficulties Encountered by
American Claimants Against Ven-
ezaeian Goyernment-ArbitI
Refused and Result Will Probably
BE Use OF Force-Matter I'm Hands
&C EC-ciSn Relations Committee.
Washington, D. G., March 31.-The
long expected correspondence between
America and Venezuela respecting
pending American claims against the
latter country was submitted to the
senate today and is almost certain to
create q profound impression 1t will
be difficult 10 digest the vast mass
OF material which Secretary Root has
placed before congress, but even a
cursory inspection of the documents
make it evident that the negotiations
have reached a critical phase.
The presidents realization of the
fact is shown by his transmission of
the matter to the senate without any
comment, regarding the correspon-
dence and especially Secretary Roots
strong presentation OF the American
case as sufficient to instantly enlist
the attention Of congress
Ali the correspondence and docu-
ments were referred to the senate
committee on foreign relations
Those members of the committee
who have already familiarized them
selves with the situation have ar
ranged tentatively a program which
consists Of three propositions as fol-
lows:
Place prohibition tariff or Vene-
zuelan coffee, the exports of which
constituted As per cent of the entire
Venezuelan foreign trade, and 80 per
cent. Of the coffee is taken by the
United States.
Excludes all ImpcrtatiOns of as
phalt from Lake Bermudez, the pro-
duct OF which has been taken al
most entirely by the United States
Authorize the president to exercise
the general power invested in him
to take whatever steps he may con-
slider necessary to treat with Venezue-
Ia in the future.
IN letter to Minister Russell on
February %, 1907, Secretary Root re-
viewed the difficulties encountered by
the various American claimants and
instructed Mr. Russell to demand
remedy and redress. The letter con-
cluded with this statement:
You are Instructed to bring these
several causes of complaint to the
immediate and serious attention of
the Venezuelan government and to
insist that the government to which
you are credited shall give to each
and every demand hereinforth imme-
date consideration"
In issuing general instructions to
the American minister Secretary Root
said: 'You will call the attention Of
the government Of Venezeula to the
fact that Notwithstanding the long
and unbroken friendship manifested
by the United States for Venezuela;
Notwithstanding the repeated occa-
s1ons upon which the United States
has intervened as a friend in need to
relieve Venezuela from disagreeable
and dangerous complications with
others powers; notwithstanding the
patience and consideration which has
always characterized the action of
Fhls government towards Vene-
zuela the government of Venezuela
has within the past few years prac-
tlcally conffscated or destroyed all
the substantial property interests of
Americans in that country. This has
been done sometimes in accordance
with the forms of laws and contrary
to the spirit of the law, sometimes
within even form of law by one de-
vice Or another with the action of
the government apparently always
hostile to American interests until of
the many millions of dollars invested
by American citizens in that country
practically nothing remains.
The memorandum compiled by Soil
citor Scott, of the state department,
gives eXhaustively the facts and law
in each of the subjects of dispute be-
tween the American and Venezuelan
governments. This memoranda, which
occupies nearly two hundred printed
pages, forms a part Of the volumin-
Gus record of the cases which Secra-
tary Root transmitted to the senate
in response to a resolution of Sena-
tor Lodge.
The muddle of concession on con-
cession, revocation on revocation.
mining titles, wild land titles, and
titles under charging constitutions
and varying laws, intrigue, revolu-
ton, Imprisonment and DEATH woven
and interviewer in the case of the
claim against Venezuela of the New
York and Bermudez Company, forms
the most interesting chapter of the
long story.
The company is now completely
dispossessed of what is regarded as
largest asphalt lake in the world and
has been condemned by Venezuelan
courts to pay that government a fine
of $5,oO0,0OO for melting revolution.
Though repeatedly requested, Vene-
zuela has refused to arbitrate this
case and it is the opinion of the So
iicitor that 1t is inadvisable to resub-
NIT the claim through the ordinary
channels. AN impasse has been
reached in this case he says, which
cannot be resolved by ordinary peace
full methods"
The troubles of this company seem
to have begun from the moment
Horatio R Hamilton, an American,
obtained twenty-five year conces-
sion to eYDlOit tho national rocour,a-