The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
Sealed and Registered
Sacks for Cruiser Tam
pered With" at La
Guayra.
Postal Officials Admit
Charge, But 1t Was
Accident - InVeStiga-
ton Is Ordered.

the State and Navy Departments yes
terday 10 the effect that mail for the
cruiser Tacoma, cruising in Venezuelan
waters, in sealed and registered sacks,
had been ''tampered with" at the La
Guayra postoffice in Venezuela
This information was received with
the greatest concern. owing TO the al
ready strained relations OF the United
States with Venezuela
Commander John Hood, Of the Ia
coma, cabled the Navy Department
several days ago from Curacao that
the mail received from the La GuGyra
postonfice upon the arrival of his snip
there had been opened before being
turned over to him and that the seals
on three bags were broken. This in
formation was Immediately communi-
Gated to the State Department and Min
lister Russell at Caracas brought the
matter TO the attention Of the Vene-
zuelan government. He reported yester-
day that the matter was taken up
with the pcstoffice officials and that
they said that the seals on the three
sacks were broken Inadvertently
Investigation Ordered.
Minister Russell was ordered TO make
2 complete investigation. and it was
announced by the State Department
that no action would be taken until a
full report was received
Since the first report reached Wash
inGton the cruiser Tacoma has remained
in Venezuelan waters. being used as
a dispatch boat for Minister Russell to
get his messages through 10 Washington
without having them go through the
Ia Qua a postonice.
No furthel details have been received
than the 'inadvertent' explanation.
Minister Russell has been granted leave
Of absence TO come TO this country, but
it is declared at the State Department
that there is no significance IN this fact
that Mr. Russell was granted leave sew
eraI weeks ago. and that he Is coming
home for personal reasons. II is said
he has not had a vacation for several
years, and that he fears for the health
or his three-months'-old baby.
Will Make Report.
Notwithstanding these reasons. how
ever. he will undoubtedly make a full
report 10 the Secretary Of State in per
son as soon as he arrives in Wash
ington. This report VIII not only be
upon the subject Of mail, but upon mat.
tiers in general in Venezuela and the sit
uation there. Grave fear is expressed
in seine quarters that not only the Of
fetal instructions and other official doc
uments Of tie Navy Department may
have been opened, but that secret dis
patches on matters Of state between
Minister Russell and the United States
Government may have been involved Fl
the past
The Tacoma has ben cruising in Cen
tlal American waters for several weeks
The incident occurred while the vessel
was at La Guayra several days, at
which time several bags of mail were
received through the Venezuelan post
Office. Commander Hoods report does
not indicate that the mail Itself had
been rifed.
Incident Provokes Comment.
In view of the relations between the
two governments the incident has pro-
voked great deal OF comment. coming
as IL does on the eve of the transmits
sion 10 the Senate of the diplomatic
correspondence and reports concerning
the American claims against Venezue-
Ia The report. as called for by Sena-
tor Lodges resolution. has been COM
pleted. and was sent to the President
yesterday for transmission to the Sea
ate. and will be submitted tomorrow.
The general impression is that Vene-
zuela was cognizart Of the predicament
IN which Castro's attitude has placed
the country and feared that the Ia
comas mission was not altogether q
peaceful one. The desire to assure her
self on this point is advanced as q
reason for the ''inadvertent' tamperine
with the seals Of the Tacoma's mai
bags The presence Of the cruiser ir
Venezuelan waters must have been dis
quieting to the Venezuela government
under the circumstances
The Tacoma is now at Curacao. Il
which port she has returned after
bringing the dispatch OF Minister Rus
sell from La Guayra. The latter port +,
now affected by the bubonic plague, th'
extent Of which is not accurately
known It is said TO be serious, how
ever. twenty deaths having already oc
CURED.