apply in the case of religious organizations in this country maintained wholly by contributions from the United States of America, and without financial aid from the Government of Venezuela, authority was granted immediately by the Governor of the Federal District, through the Ministry of the Interior, for suspension of the attempt. This was followed by assurances from the Government of Venezuela to this Legation that the effort to apply the Law of Patronage to Protestant missions was based upon a misunderstanding of said law on the part of petty officials. The theory of the authorities of Venezuela in invoking the Law of Patronage upon the entry and exit of Catholic priests is for protection against the movements of revolutionists disguised as such. For the same reason the Law of Patronage requires that Catholic priests shall be citizens of Venezuela. There have been many efforts to secure the repeal of the Law of Patronage and especially to eliminate from the constitution any reference to it. A special effort toward this end is now being made by Monsignor Pietropaoli, Apostolic Delegate to this capital. In so far as concerns the exclusion from Venezuela of Catholic priests of the United States or any of its dependencies, I am confident prompt relief can be secured when the matter is brought to the attention of the Government. I have [etc.] PRESTON MCGOODWIN. [Inclosure Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister McGoodwin. MR. MINISTER: I have had the honor to receive your excellency's official communication No. 125 of the 22nd instant. On acquainting myself with the import of said note and the cablegram addressed to the Legation by the Secretary of State of the United States, it is incumbent upon me to state, for your excellency's information, that our fundamental charter guarantees religious liberty in accord with the law and at the same time vests in the Federal Executive supreme supervision over all cults established or which may be established in the country. By virtue of this provision said charter confers upon the Federal Executive the faculty of "permitting conditional entrance into the territory of the Republic of foreigners especially dedicated to the service of any cult or religion, whatever may be the order of hierarchy with which they are invested." It should be understood that the conferring by the constitution of these attributes upon the Executive is not intended to impair religious liberty but to safeguard order in the exercising of the outward cult, in accordance with the principles observed by the State in its relation to the churches. It is an administrative faculty, the exercise of which can not be interpreted as limiting religious guaranties, because, as is known, in addition to those of the Catholic cult, that of the majority, there exist other churches erected by permission of the Government, in which there is free exercise of the cult for which they are destined. Your excellency will please take into account these observations, which convey precise intelligence of the constitutional provisions in the matter, in replying to the Secretary of State. I avail [etc.] MANUEL DIAZ RODRIGUEZ. File No. 831.404/15. No. 198.] Minister McGoodwin to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Caracas, June 26, 1914. SIR: Referring to the Department's telegram of April 16, instructing me to "express the interest of the Government of the United States in obtaining permission for American clergymen to exercise the ministry in the Republic of Venezuela and the introduction of this measure into the revised constitution," and also referring to my despatch No. 136 of May 16, transmitting a letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I now have the honor to report that the Department's suggestion was acted upon favorably by the National Constituent Assembly in framing the new Constitution of Venezuela by omitting therefrom any reference to the subject matter of what was article 23 in the Constitution of 1909 (under Chapter III, section 2) the text of which was as follows: ARTICLE 23. The nation guarantees to Venezuelans: 13. Religious liberty, but without in any way lessening the exercise of the Law of Patronage of the Republic, which will continue to be enforced in the manner prescribed by law, and the Federal Executive will exercise supreme inspection over every cult established or which may be established in the country. The Law of Patronage remains in force, as it has for several generations, but it is clear as to its application, as affecting only those religous organizations which accept financial support from the Government. The reference to this law in nearly every constitution has been ambiguous and its omission from the new constitution obviate likelihood of misinterpretation in future. I have [etc.] PRESTON MCGOODWIN. DEATH OF DR. PEDRO EZEQUIEL ROJAS, ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF VENEZUELA TO THE UNITED STATES. File No. 701.3111/40. The Venezuelan Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] VENEZUELAN LEGATION, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 26, 1914. It becomes my duty to inform your excellency that Señor Rojas, Minister of Venezuela, died today in this city and that in my capacity as Secretary of the Legation, I have taken charge as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. File No. 701.3111/40. LUIS CHURIÓN. The Secretary of State to Minister McGoodwin. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The Department was grieved this morning to learn of the death of the Minister of Venezuela at this capital. Call in person at Foreign Office and express suitable condolences and say that this Government has offered its services to the Chargé d'Affaires. I have cabled. condolences to Minister Foreign Affairs. File No. 701.3111/40. W. J. BRYAN. The Secretary of State to the Venezuelan Chargé d'Affaires. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, I am shocked and grieved to learn of the lamentable death of Señor Rojas and I hasten to extend to you an expression of my profound sympathy. The Department would like to consult with you with a view to making arrangements for the funeral service, and to affording you every possible assistance. File No. 701.3111/40. W. J. BRYAN. The Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 26, 1914. It is with great sorrow and regret that I learn of the lamentable death of Señor Don P. Ezequiel Rojas which comes as a great shock to me. On the part of the Government of the United States, I hasten to express to you its profound sympathy on this sad occasion and am directed by the President to extend through you to the President of Venezuela his sincere condolences. High qualities of statesmanship and friendly sentiments have always marked the relations of Señor Rojas with this Government and his memory will be highly cherished in the United States. File No. 701.3111/43b. W. J. BRYAN. The Secretary of State to Minister McGoodwin. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, In the desire to pay every respect to the late Minister of Venezuela this Government proposes to convey the remains to La Guaira in the U. S. S. Kansas. Funeral services will be held in Washington on Tuesday morning next, immediately after which the remains will be placed on board the President's yacht Sylph, and conveyed to the battleship awaiting off Hampton Roads. Promptly inform the Department whether these arrangements are agreeable to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 15662°-F R 1914-70 BRYAN. File No. 701.3111/47. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Translation.] CARACAS, July 1, 1914. I hasten to express to your excellency my Government's gratitude for the justice doing words in which your excellency feelingly evinces your own and the United States Government's sorrow for the death of our Minister Rojas. I beg your excellency to convey to His Excellency the President of the United States the lasting appreciation with which the President of Venezuela responds to the tribute paid to the memory of one to whose gifts as a statesman and perfect gentleman our Government entrusted the duty of ever making closer and deeper the friendship that so happily binds our nations to each other. MANUEL DIAZ RODRIGUEZ. File No. 701.3111/54. No. 204.] Minister McGoodwin to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: Referring to the Department's telegram of June 26, I have the honor to enclose herewith copy with translation of a letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressing gratitude for the marked consideration the Department has shown the Government of Venezuela in connection with the death and funeral of its late Minister to Washington, Señor Doctor Pedro Ezequiel Rojas. Complying with instructions I called at the Foreign Office and expressed condolence and later in the day paid a visit to the house of Doctor V. Márquez-Bustillos, Provisional President and intimate personal friend of the decedent. Both of these high officials called personally at the Legation on the afternoon of July 3, and manifested their sincere gratitude for the extent of the courtesies extended by the Department. They were especially impressed by the fact that the body of the lamented envoy is being conveyed in a warship. The chiefs of divisions and other employees of the Foreign Office also called and each in turn placed stress upon the generous treatment accorded by the Government of the United States. A large number of representative citizens have voiced this sentiment. I have [etc.] PRESTON MCGOODWIN. [Inclosure Translation.] The Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Secretary of State. CARACAS, July 2, 1914. MR. MINISTER: I have had the honor to receive the official note No. 176 of June 30 last, in which your excellency, with reference to the statements made to me personally the same day in the name of your Government concerning the lamented death of our Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, Señor Pedro Ezequiel Rojas, was pleased to inform me of the measures taken by the Government of the United States for the delivery to the Government of Venezuela of the remains of the distinguished diplomat; and taking advantage of the same opportunity to renew your sentiments and esteem and appreciation for the noble qualities of Señor Rojas and phrases of condolence for so great a loss to Venezuela. Deeply impressed by the observations of your excellency, I must express the profound gratitude with which the Government of Venezuela receives these demonstrations of the Government of the United States and of your excellency in honor of the distinguished statesman whose conduct in representing the Venezuelan nation was always an assurance of the continuance of the most cordial relations between the two countries and who won for himself the exceptional appreciation of which testimony is given on this sad occasion by the Government of your excellency. Requesting that your excellency will convey to the Government of the United States these sentiments of my Government, it gives me pleasure to reiterate on this occasion the assurances of my high and distinguished consideration. MANUEL DIAZ RODRIGUEZ. |