Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-01
felt bound to again strive to reach an
agreement.
Letter to Mr. Russell

Ieit DoOnd 10 again strive 10 redch an
agreement.
Letter to Mr. Russell
In letter to Minister Russell February
IS. 1907. Mr.. Root reviewed the difficulties
encountered by the various American
claimants and instructed Mr. Russell to
demand remedy and redress The letter
concluded with this statement:
You are instructed to bring these sev-
eral causes of complaint to the immediate
and serious attention Of the Venezuelan
government. and to insist that the gov
eminent to which you are accredited shall
give to each and every demand herein set
forth immediate consideration"
In Issuing general instructions to the
American minister Secretary Root said:
You will call the attention Of the gov
eminent Of Venezuela to the fact that
Notwithstanding the long and unbroken
friendship manifested by the United States
for Venezuela; notwithstanding the re-
peated occasions upon which the United
States has interviewed friend in need
to relieve Venezuela from disagreeable
and dangerous complications with other
powers; not Withstanding the patience and
consideration which has always character.
lied the action of this government toward
Venezuela the government of Venezuela
has within the past few years practically
confiscated or destroyed all the substantial
property interests of Americans in that
country. This has been done sometimes
in accordance with the forms of law and
contrary to the spirit of the law: some
ties 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 mil
lions Of dollars invested by American citi-
zens in that country practically nothing
remains
comments upon the expulsion from Ven
ezuelan territory Of A. F. Jaurett Satur-
day, November II. 1904 after the closing
hours of business. Mr.. Root says that the
United States neither questions nor denies
the existence of the sovereign right to
expel an undesirable resident, but that
the justification must be great and con-
vincing. "Otherwise.' he said. residence
in a foreign country would be neither
safe nor profitable, for expulsion might
at any moment deprive a resident Of the
legitimate rewards of a lifetime
No Opportunity to Explain.
After discussing at some length the right
of foreign government to expel citizen
MIR Root concludes as follows
1T is not too much to insist that the
person to be expelled be given an oppor-
tunity to explain the misconduct whereof
he Is accused. and that he should be given
an opportunity TO arrange his business af-
fairs in order that expulsion may not
necessarily carry with 1t forfeiture OF
property. In no case should the expulsion
be decreed and executed after closing
hours on Saturday unless the presence of
the undesirable resident is so dangerous
TO the community as to threaten serious
consequences to the state by the mere de-
lay over Sunday"
The claim as outlined by Mr.. Root was
presented to Venezuela by Mr.. Russell
and the correspondence shows 1t re-
ceived scant consideration. On that ac-
count Mr.. Root addressed another letter
to Mr.. Russell dated June 81. 1907. calling
attention to the demands for an amicable
adjustment of the controversies by means
Of international arbitration. made In Feb
ruary. Commenting upon Venezuela 8
failure to take cognizance OF the Amer
lean note Mr. Root in his letter said:
The answer the Venezuelan govern
ment makes to these demands practically
refuses consideration. 1t is practically
confined to a single denial of the correct
ness of the attitude of this government
The curt and contemptuous way in which
ii ignores or dismisses the serious and re-
spectful representations OF the United
States produces a painful impression of
indifference and disrespect. With the pa
tience. however, which has characterized
the actions of the government of the
United States in the past in all its rela-
tons to Venezuela the Depart ment of
State again instructs you to reiterate the
views expressed in the instructions Of
February % last and to make the follow
ing brief reply to each of the points raised
by the memorandum of Venezuela" The