No. 334.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Baker.
Department
of State,
Washington, July 5,
1882.
No. 163.]
Sir: Adverting to previous correspondence upon the
subject, and acknowledging the receipt of your dispatch No. 487 of the 13th
ultimo, relative to the additional duty of 30 per cent. imposed upon imports
from the United States into the ports of Venezuela, I have now to inclose,
for your information, a copy of a further communication addressed to the
Department by Messrs. Boulton, Bliss, and Dallet, respecting that matter. In
it they ask that you may be instructed to secure, if possible, a
modification of the decree of the Venezuelan Government, in order that their
merchandise shipped from New York destined for Maracaibo, when accompanied
by proper consular invoices, from the consuls of that republic in this
country may be allowed transhipment at Curaçoa to the firm’s branch steamer
trading between the ports of Venezuela.
Your above-mentioned dispatch shows your appreciation and understanding of
the present situation, and your action, looking to the obtaining of such
liberal and just changes in existing regulations through the executive of
that government, is approved. In thus endeavoring to materially benefit our
commerce with that country, it might be well to bring to the attention of
his excellency the wishes of Messrs. Boulton, Bliss & Dallett, and, if
possible, have them complied with, unless such modifications as you may be
able to obtain in the premises should cover their point and should be
general in their effect, thereby exempting them, with others, from the
payment of the onerous additional duty now imposed.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 163.]
Messrs. Boulton, Bliss &
Dallett to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Sir: We beg respectfully to represent that on
the 21st October, 1881, we addressed the Department on the subject of a
decree contemplated by the Executive of Venezuela; and again on the 5th
of January last, in reply to a communication from the Department on the
same subject.
The decree referred to, imposing a discriminating duty of 30 per cent.
upon all merchandise imported into Venezuela from any of the West India
Islands, was promulgated on the 12th of April last. The object of the
decree is to discountenance importations from the West India Islands and
encourage importations from primary markets. Under a provision of the
decree, merchandise shipped from this country destined for Maracaibo,
even though accompanied by consular invoices, cannot be transhipped at
any of the West India Islands to the port of Maracaibo without paying
the additional duty of 30 per cent. This provision affects very
injuriously our line of American steamships trading from this port with
Laguayra and Peurto Cabello, and through the Island of Curaçoa, with the
port of Maracaibo, obliging us to abstain altogether from taking
merchandise for the latter port, as owing to the draft of water the
steamer cannot cross the bar near Maracaibo. Previous to the
promulgation of this decree, the steamers transhipped this cargo at
Curaçoa to a branch steamer (built at Philadelphia specially for the
trade) drawing only ten to ten and a half feet of water, which is the
greatest draft at which a vessel can cross the bar with safety.
What we particularly desire is, that merchandise shipped from this port
destined for Maracaibo, when accompanied by consular invoices from the
consulate here, shall be allowed transhipment at Curaçoa to our branch
steamer trading between those
[Page 538]
ports. We see no good reason why this privilege should not be accorded,
as the consular invoices (copies of which are sent by the Venezuelan
consul to the Department at Caracas) would be sufficient proof that the
merchandise was shipped from a primary market, and would in no wise
prejudice the object of the decree. European merchandise is thus allowed
transhipment to Venezuela from this port.
We respectfully ask the good offices of the Department to secure a
modification or more liberal interpretation of this decree, so injurious
to American steamship interests.
We may add that none of the European steamship lines trading with
Venezuela go there direct. All call at intermediate ports to discharge
and load cargo before landing their European cargo at ports in
Venezuela.
We remain, &c.,
BOULTON, BLISS & DALLETT,
General
Managers Red D line of steamships.
