The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-14
BREAK is Made.
OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
WITH VENEZUELA AND.
RELATIONS
Senior Veloz.Goiticoa Notifies Secre-
tary Bacon That His Government
Orders the Legation Closed.

tary Bacon That His Government
Orders the Legation Closed.
A dispatch from Washington on
Thursday says the diplomatic rela-
tions between America and Venezuela
that have existed uninterruptedly for
more than half century, though in
recent years severely strained, were
Thursday completely severed. That
afternoon Senor Velzo-Goiticoa, the
Venezuelan charge d'affaires, called
at the state department at Washing
ton Fby appointment to present to
Acting Secretary Bacon notice from
mis- government that he was to quit
his post here, close up the Venezue-
Ian legation fn washington and re-
pair to Venezuela.
The charge explained to the acting
secretary-that the action of the state
department in withdrawing Jacob
Sleeper, the American charge, from
Caracas and in closing up its lega-
ton there made it necessary for his
government to take similar action
in the case of it's own legation in
Washington.
Just what took place between Act
ing Secretary Bacon and the charge
can not be known beyond the fact
that the latter presented his letters
of recall. He made no demand for
his passports, nor could he do SO
consistently, in view of the fact that
Foreign Minister Paul had declined
issue such passports to the Ameri-
can charge when he withdrew from
Caracas, on the ground that there
was no necessity for passports, the
country being in profound peace and
his person not being threatened in
| dus way
Senior Veloz-Goiticoa did communi-
cate to Mr.. Bacon the fact that the
files and papers of the Venezuelan
legation would be placed in the GUS
tody of Senior Jacobo Pimental, the
Venezuelan consul general in New
York. This statement is regarded
as an Indication that the Venezue-
Ian government will follow the pre-
cedent established by the United
States in refraining from interfering
with trade by closing the consulates
Notwithstanding the branch in diplo'
matte relations.
1t ispointed out by officials who
have followed closely the develop
ments in the Venezuelan situation
that there is not the slightest danger
of war in the immediate future OF
indeed at all. Rather will the situa
ton resemble that following the
rupture of diplomatic relations be
tween France and Venezuela, for IN
stance, where legations were closec
on both sides and all official relation:
terminated while trade between th'
two countries continued. The histor!
of these episodes in the case of Vene
zuela is very much alike. Senor We
loz-Goiticoa's withdrawal follows
that of Minister Rusel! as diploma
tic representative of the unlte1
States to Venezuela about two months
ago and that of Mr.. Sleeper th'
secretary of the legation, and Lieut.
Ruggles, the military .ttache' aDou
two weeks since. The reason for TN
withdrawal of the American legatlol
at Caracas arose from the perslsten
refusal of Venezuela to give redres
for the governmental action d!
which all American interests II
Venezuela were either destroyed O.
confscated, or to submit the claims
of American citizens to arbltratlon.