No. 118.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Russell. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 15, 1903. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 170, of the 26th ultimo, in which attention is called to article 14 of the law passed by the Venezuelan Congress approved April 16, 1903, which reads as follows: The National Executive can not issue consular or vice-consular exequaturs to persons engaged in commerce. You ask for specific instructions in case an exequatur is refused an American vice-consul or consular agent who comes within the category of persons engaged in commerce. The right of consular representation between civilized states is established by the law of nations, and this unquestionable right is implied by the language of the article quoted. Yet it imposes such restrictions on its practical enjoyment as goes far to impair the advantageous enjoyment of the right itself. For, as is well known, many of these minor officials receive such small salaries and emoluments from their governments that it would be impossible for them to exercise and enjoy their official functions unless they were permitted to engage in commerce. The effect, therefore, of carrying out the provisions of article 14 would in these cases be the denial to the friendly Government of the United States of the right of consular representation. This Government, however, would be reluctant to believe that the friendly Government of Venezuela would decline to allow to the United States the privilege in question, if such would be the effect of putting into operation the article. You will, therefore, should the case mentioned in your dispatch arise, bring these views to the attention of the Venezuelan Government and earnestly express the grave concern with which the United States Government would regard the refusal to or the withdrawal from its vice-consuls or consular agents of their exequaturs on account of their enjoyment of the customary privilege of engaging in commerce. For it would practically result in an abnormal limitation of the right of consular representation, which is sanctioned by the usages and customs of nations and is one of the most striking evidences of their common civilization. I am, etc., JOHN HAY. INDEX. A. Page. Accession of King Peter to Servian throne 716 Action of United States troops in Cuba and the Philippines, rejection of claims 479 588 aliens into the Transvaal and Orange River colonies, regulations govern- 545 corporations of United States to engage in business in Austria-Hungary 17 130 Agents of the United States, commercial status and powers of, in Austria- 14 Agreement by protocol: between the United States and Venezuela for submission to arbitration of 804 between Venezuela and Germany, to which the United States and other 439 477 611 Alaskan boundary: convention between the United States and Great Britain providing for the 488 correspondence between the Governments of the United States and Great 493 decision of the Alaskan Boundary tribunal under the treaty of January 543 Aliens: admission of, into the Transvaal and Orange River colonies; regulations 545 in Venezuela-rights of (involving issuance of consular or vice-consular 806 Amazon River, free navigation of, in Brazil American: 36 citizen; attack on H. C. Shipley by Turkish policeman in Smyrna.. 733 665 with Turkish Government with reference to official recognition of, etc. 735 692 626 Amiral Fourichon, French steamship, stoppage of, at sea by a United States 408 Annual message of the President of the United States. vii 387 Application, passport, of Lazarus Marks and his son David, in Guatemala.......... 594 Arbitration: Page. claims of citizens of United States against Venezuela, agreement by proto- 804 donation of court-house and library for the permanent arbitration court Argentine Republic: "Monroe doctrine" and diplomatic claims of European powers Arrest: and detention, provisional, of Charles Kratz, charged with bribery, whose and subsequent release of Alberto Posadas, a naturalized citizen of the and delivery to German consuls of deserters from German vessels in United King Alexander and accession of King Peter to Servian throne.......... Assistance rendered by citizens of United States to famine sufferers in Sweden; Attack on H. C. Shipley, American citizen, by policeman at Smyrna, and 733 Attacks on Syrians, naturalized citizens of the United States resident in 127 Attempted blockade by Dominican Government, by decree, of ports held by Attitude of: Colombian Government toward United States missionary schools.. Audience: of the diplomatic corps with the Emperor of Korea, ceremonial.............................. admission of United States corporations to engage in business in Austria- 396 123 410 278 633 735 right and method of renunciation of United States citizenship. Beirut, Turkey, attempted assassination of United States vice-consul at.. Boundary, Alaskan: convention between the United States and Great Britain providing for the Brazil: free navigation of the Amazon River............. message of President of, to Brazilian Congress (extracts).. 769 396 488 493 543 Monroe doctrine, press comments on note of Argentine Government to treaty and protocol between the United States and Brazil for the extra- Bribery, extradition of Charles Kratz from Mexico, charged with.. British claims on account of losses incurred through action of United States British consul-general at Tabréz, Persia, proteciion of American interests by.. 692 24 27 674 79 479 17 C. Canal: interoceanic, across the Isthmus of Panama; correspondence concerning Page. rejection of canal treaty by Colombia (under correspondence concerning 132 message of the President of the United States concerning the construction 260 132 333 686 637 treaty with Panama providing for; action of municipalities approving rat- Carnegie, Andrew, donation of a court-house and library for the Permanent Chemulpo, Korea, ownership of certain lands in general foreign settlement at. citizenship of Chinese and Japanese women married to United States citi- zens. commercial treaty between Great Britain and China.. consuls engaged in business, right of, to take part in deliberations of con- expiatory monument erected in memory of Baron von Ketteler, late Impe- foreigners in Peking, rights of.. Manchuria, correspondence concerning open ports, evacuation by Russia, etc rates of import tariff, etc.. rebellious movements, brigandage, etc., in China.. right of United States war vessels to visit Chinese inland waters. treaty between the United States and China for the extension of the com- Chinese and Japanese women married to United States citizens, citizenship of. protection of, in Gautemala, by United States minister Circular to diplomatic and consular officers: recognition of the Republic of LXXXIII Citizens, American: murderers of, in Mexico, failure to apprehend and punish.... 665 645 Citizens of the United States: claims of: protocol of agreement between the United States and Venezuela thanks for assistance rendered by, to famine sufferers in Sweden... Claims of: 804 731 44 ཚོག ཋ British nationals against the Government of Venezuela, difficulty with 452,788 479 1 French nationals against the Government of Venezuela, attitude of 410, 788 German nationals against the Government of Venezuela, difficulty with 417, 788 Italian nationals against the Government of Venezuela, difficulty with 601, 788 preferential treatment of claims, reference of question to The Hague Tri- 439, 477, 611 United States citizens against the Government of Venezuela, protocol of 804 Coaling or naval stations, lease of to the United States in Cuba.. 350 Collection of alien head tax from foreign diplomatic and consular officers 661 adoption of gold standard by Colombia. 130 Colombia-Continued. attitude of Colombian Government toward United States missionary attitude of the United States Government in the event of the Colombian declaration of independence of Panama freedom of transit across Isthmus, instructions to naval and consular officers message of the President of the United States transmitting a statement of Page. 123 278 132 258 247 260 mob attacks on Syrians, naturalized citizens of the United States 127 281 reception of minister of Panama.. 245 rejection of canal treaty by Colombia (under correspondence concerning 132 relations of the United States with Colombia and the Republic of Panama. 283 230 Commerce, issuance of exequaturs to consuls or vice-consuls in Venezuela 806 Commercial agents of the United States, status and powers of, in Austria-Hun- 14 Commercial convention between the United States and Cuba.. 375 between Great Britain and China.... 551 between the United States and China, text of.. 91 Construction of an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama, corre- 132 Construction of treaty provision regarding arrest and delivery to German con- 411 769 Consular convention between the United States and Greece, defining the Consular officers: collection of alien head tax from diplomatic and consular officers entering 565 84 661 in Dalny, jurisdiction of .. 708 right of, to apply to local German authorities for information. 444 806 Consuls engaged in business in China, right of, to take part in deliberations of 82 Consuls, United States, right of, to receive effects of United States citizens, 483 Convention: Alaskan boundary, convention between the United States and Great 488 375 381 565 672 Copyrights and trade-marks in Japan........... Corporations of United States, adinission of, to engage in business in Austria- between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain after the |