Mr. Seward to Señor Bruzual.
The Secretary of State of the United States has the honor to say for the information of Mr. Bruzual what follows: This government has been officially informed that an armed revolution recently broke out in the United States of Venezuela, which has been attended by the incidents following, namely: That the President of the United States of Venezuela, Mr. Falcon, has abdicated or resigned the office of President and has taken refuge at Curaçoa, after having first appointed a regency; that this regency then called Manuel E. Bruzual, who had been minister of war and marine, to exercise the chief executive power of the republic at Caracas, the national capital; that afterward the government of Mr. [Page 993] Bruzual was overthrown at Caracas, and that a provisional government under the direction of General Monagas was established at that place; and that General Bruzual, having made his escape from that city by flight, has afterwards effected a satisfactory reorganization of the same at Puerto Cabello.
It thus appears there are two distinct governments existing de facto in the republic of Venezuela, each of which claims supreme authority over all the territory of that republic. These two governments are engaged in civil war, and the nation is divided between them. Each claims to represent the republic of Venezuela in international transactions with the United States and other foreign powers. The provisional government at Caracas has given notice to the United States that Mr. Blas Bruzual, and all other diplomatic agents of the United States of Venezuela, have been displaced and deprived of their functions by the government now established at Caracas.
The provisional government which is established at Puerto Cabello has given notice that it has established a blockade of the Port La Guayra, and of a large portion of the adjacent sea-coast. The provisional government at Caracas has denounced that blockade as illegal and unconstitutional, and has issued a decree for the opening of the ports of the republic to foreign trade. The note which Mr. Blas Bruzual addressed to the Secretary of State on the 24th of August, instant, in relation to the political situation of Venezuela, has been received, read, and filed among the archives of this department. The undersigned has also given audience to Mr. Blas Bruzual personally upon the subjects discussed in that paper.
Mr. Blas Bruzual, however, is expected to understand that the government of the United States, by extending to him this respectful attention, does not in any way commit itself upon the question which of the two contending governments in Venezuela, if either, represents the true and sovereign authority of that republic. In the mean time the United States will not decline to receive information from any agents of those governments, while the United States will expect of each, that, so far as the authority which it exercises is concerned, the rights of the United States and of their citizens will be duly observed and respected. It only remains for the undersigned to observe that this government will await such solution of the political problem thus offered as must in due time take place in Venezuela, with the final sanction of the people of that republic. It can hardly be necessary to add that the government of the United States deeply deplores the civil war which has created the necessity for these explanations.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to offer to Mr. Bruzual the assurances of his high consideration.
Señor Don Blas Bruzual, &c., &c., &c.