Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-08
Relations Between United
States and Venezuela
Seem Anything But Amicab|e-..
Remarkable Editorial
Appears In Fl Constitutional, Gas.
tres Official Organ.

fairs over the incident of the opening
Of the Tacoma's mail pouches in the
LaGuira postoftice has greatly in
creased the long existing strain in the
diplomatic relations between the two
countries. These actions have been re-
Gently aggregated by the diplomatic
correspondence regarding the Ameri-
can claims against Venezuela and by
the resolution of the Washington Con-
eress calling for the ventilation of the
Venezuelan question before that body.
Minister Russell on March 81, in a
note to DR.. Paul, minister for foreign
affairs made the following statement
which was qualified by the latter in
his answer us terminating from a
prejudiced mind" and as showing
"suspiciousness of levity:'
"Inasmuch as having broken the seal
of the United States, which had been
placed on these mail pouches address,
ed to United State warship, visit
ing in Venezuelan port, and having
touched wrongfully the correspondence
of said ship, is very serious matter,
l respectfully ask Your Excellency to
make a prompt and complete investi-
cation of this act on the part of the
functionaries of the Venezuelan post
office in LaGuira.'
The foreign Office ordered an inves-
tigation to be made by the postmaster
general. This showed that the pouches
had been opened by mistake and that
the contents had not been disturbed.
DR.. Paul then answered Mr.. Russell
under date of March "a as follows. both
notes being published on the following
day III Ell Constitutional.
"To the suspiciousness or levity
shown by the observations contained
in Your Excellency's note. the VeneZu-
elan government, even more interest
ed in clearing up the matter, replied
by Immediately addressing the minis
ter of fomento, in conformity with
your desire to the end of opening a
rapid investigation of the fact. From
the report Your Excellency will see
w and in way which attaches no re-
sponsibility which could effect the
good lame of the administration and
Venezuela has today.
I'm fact one sees at first sight that
the government of Venezuela could
have no interest in interfering with
correspondence of no Importance to it
and only prejudiced mind could have
called it a very serious matter from
the first moment.
ut is perfectly well explained that
the seals of the two bags received by
the postoffice in LaGuira and not three
as stated in your excellency's note and
which it afterwards became known
were for the cruiser Tacoma, were
exactly similar to the ordinary seals
used by the New York postoffice and
it is also explained that the corre-
spondence was delivered as soon as it's
destination became known, integral
and intact, as was shown by the Sec
rotary of the American consul receiv-
ing it without question. This is also
shown by the contents of your excel
lencys note, to which I refer
The day following the publication Of
the diplomatic correspondence regard
ing the mail pouches President Cas-
tro's official organ, FL Constitutional,
published an editorial accusing Presi-
dent Roosevelt of Searching for light
incidents out of which to create a con-
flict with Venezuela" and of having
a "Premeditated plan
1t says: us it possible that Minister
Russell could have written his note to
our foreign office without having a
pre-conceived and premeditated in
tention, to attribute to simple act
intentions which do not exist. and to
pre- Judge the act as serious for the
government of the United States is to
have a premeditated plan which ought
not to originate, because it cannot,
from the actual American minister in
Caracas, w. w. Russell
From where then, can originate the
idea of searching for slight incidents
to create a conflict with Venezuela?
From the chief of this legation who is
called the secretary of state in WASH
ington. and who, in turn, cannot but
be under the direct influence of Presi-
dent Roosevelt"
Saying that it is high time for the
American nation to know President
Roosevelt's real ambition. whether
that Of a friend or dictator, the edi-
torial continues:
I'm the aspiration of Roosevelt,
President Of the United States, against
the traditions which impose the union
of the American people among them
selves has as basis the abdication of the
territorial sovereignty of these people
or the nullity of their codes, just be-
cause the pretentiOns of few citi-
zens who do not, and cannot. repre-
sent the will of the American people,
1t is then high time that this horrible
truth be known and that the people
of the new world know whether in the
government of the United States they
have friend or a capricious dictator
eff the first Venezuela is the most
respectful of all to the dicates of hon
or and friendship; if the second, it
should be known once for all that
Venezuela assumed the paternity of
it's sovereignty and at this late day it
has not conceived the crime of the
traitor to forget it under any form or
consideration"
A profound sensation has been
caused in Caracas by this article, for
it is President Castro who speaks.
Between the lines it is easy to see that
friendly rela tinns must now be strain
ed almost to the breaking point. Say
ing that it will be necessary to conquer