Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-07-29
VENEZUELA charge
D'AFFAIRS LEAVES
Diplomatic Relations
With U. S. Are
Severed

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July o.
The diplomatic relations between
America and Venezuela that have ex-
listed uninterruptedly for more than
half a century, though in recent years
severely strained, were today COM
pletely severed. At 3:3O o'clock this
afternoon Senior Veloz-Goiticoa, the
Venezuelan Charge d'Affaires, called
at the State Department by appoint
mcnt to present to Acting Secretary
Bacon notice from his Government
that he was to quit his post here,
closing up the Venezuelan Legation
In Washington and repair forthwith
10 Venezuela.
The Charge executed his commits
sion punCtiliously. In few minutes
talk he explained to the Acting Sec
rotary that the action of the State
Department in withdrawing Jacob
Sleeper, the American Charge, from
Caracas, and in closing its Legation
there, made 1t necessary for his Gov
eminent to take similar action in the
case of its Legation in Washington.
Therefore, he was leaving the capt.
tai at the earliest possible moment
that he could arrange his domestic
affairs to do so, which will be toner
row, and will proceed directly to New
York, there to take passage for Ven
e2uela on SATURDAY.. The Minister
leaves behind him in Washington his
family and household effects. but
these will probably follow him to
Venezuela in the near future.
Farewell of the Envoy
Just what took place between Act
ing Secretary Bacon and the Charge
cannot be learned, beyond the fact
that the latter presented his letters
of recall. He made no demand for
his passports, nor could he do so con-
sistently in view of the fact that For
eign Minister Paul had declined to
issue such passports to the American
Charge when he withdrew from
Caracas on the ground that there was
no necessity for passports. the coun-
try being in profound peace and his
person not being threatened in any
way.
Senior Veloz did communicate with
Bacon the fact that the files and pa
pers OF the Venezuelan Legation
would be placed in the custody of
Senior Jacobo Pimental, tho Venezue-
10
This statement is regarded as an in
dicatiOn that the Venezuelan Govern
ment will follow the precedent estah-
lished by the United States in not
closing the consulates, despite the
breach in diplomatic relations. No
arrangement has been made for the
transaction of any diplomatic bust
ness which Venezuela might find it
absolutely necessary to transact,
through some unforeseen contingent
cy.
No Danger of War
1t is pointed by officials who fol-
lowed closely the developments in the
Venezuelan situation that there is
not the slightest danger OF war In the
immediate future or, indeed, at all.
Rather will the situation resemble
that following the rupture OF diplo-
matte relations between France and
Venezuela, for instance, where Lega-
tons We're closed on both sides and
all official relations terminated,
while trade between the two coun-
tries continued and Frenchmen came
to Venezuela and rich Venezuelans
made their annual pilgrimages to
Paris as If nothing had occurred.
Story of the Trouble
Senior Veloz' withdrawal follows
that of Minister Russell. last diplo-
matte representative of the United
States to Venezuela, about two
months ago, and that of Mr.. Sleeper,
the secretary of Legation, and Lieu
tenant Rugglcs, the military attache,
about two weeks ago. The reason
| for the withdrawal OF the American
Legation from Caracas arose from
the persistent refusal of Venezuela to
give redress for the Governmental
action by which all American inter-
ests In Venezuela were either de-
stroyed or confscated or to submit
/ the claims of American citizens to
arbitration.