No. 322.
Mr. Blaine
to Mr. Carter.
Department
of State,
Washington, November 1,
1881.
No. 15.]
Sir: I forward herewith, for your information, a
copy of a letter from Messrs. Boulton, Bliss & Dallett, general managers
of the Red D line of steamships, of the 21st ultimo, in which they forcibly
present considerations against the enforcement of a recent decree of the
Venezuelan Congress, which provides for an additional duty of 30 per cent,
upon all goods destined for the ports of that republic when transhipped at
any of the West India islands.
It is understood that the decree may or may not be enforced, at the will of
the Venezuelan Executive, and that its enforcement will work serious
detriment to American trade.
You will give the subject your immediate and careful attention, and should
the facts justify it, you are authorized to use your personal good offices
with that government, with a view to induce it to suspend, if possible, the
operations of that decree against our trade.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 15.]
Messrs. Boullon, Bliss &
Dallett to Mr. Blaine.
New
York, October 21,
1881.
Sir: We respectfully beg to ask your attention
to the following:
For over forty years our firm has traded with American vessels with La
Guayra arid Puerto Cabello, in Venezuela, South America. Two years ago,
in accordance with the requirements of the times, we substituted
steamers for our sailing vessels, and in order to ascertain what boats
were the most suitable, we first chartered English-built steamers. This
year we built an iron steamship at William Cramp & Sons’ yard, in
Philadelphia, and this same firm is now building a second steamer for
our line. It is our intention to run our steamers under the American
flag, as we did our sailing vessels.
In addition to the ports in Venezuela above named, our main line stops at
the island of Curacoa, from whence we run a branch steamer to Maracaibo,
the most westerly port of entry pertaining to Venezuela. At Curacoa
goods destined for Maracaibo are transhipped in bulk, accompanied with
the certified invoices from this country. A light-draught steamer is
here necessary, as the bar at the entrance to the harbor of Maracaibo
has only 11 feet of water. Such a steamer, adapted to the trade, we had
built in Philadelphia one year ago.
On the 27th May of this year the Venezuelan Congress decreed that one
year from that date, on the expiration of the treaty with Denmark, all
goods destined for Venezuelan ports, when transhipped at any of the West
India islands, should pay an additional duty of 30 per cent. This decree
may or may not be enforced, according to the will of the Executive.
At the present time, when American steamship lines are struggling for
existence against heavy odds, we ask the good offices of your department
with the Executive of Venezuela to suspend the operations of this
decree, which will seriously embarrass American trade by steamship.
We remain, &c.,
BOULTON, BLISS & DALLETT,
General
Managers Red D Line Steamships.
