8- » AVES ISLAND. 



Mr. Shelton to Mr. Marcy, on Bird Island. 



Washington, D. C, February 26, 1855. 



Sir : I present lierewitli copy of a license or permit (1) signed by 

 Domingo Dias, commander of the Venezuelan vessel of war sent to 

 take possession of Aves or Bird Island by that government. 



This document styles the island as the ''Windward Bird Island," 

 thus showing that the pretext set up that they made a mistake and 

 took the wrong Bird Islands is a mere evasion. This license of the 

 Commander Dias says they may remain until the pleasure of the su- 

 preme government is known. This is on the 13th December; on the 

 24th or 25th (the vessel having gone back to Venezuela) a second ex- 

 pedition arrives bringing more troops. Sufficient time having elapsed 

 since the departure of the first vessel for Venezuela for her to arrive 

 and the second to be dispatched by order of government, showing con- 

 clusively the government were acting understandingly, this second 

 vessel communicated with St. Thomas, after landing the troops, and 

 on her return thence ordered our men to quit the island within twenty- 

 four hours, refusing to allow them to remove the buildings they had 

 erected, but took possession of them for their own residences ; and the 

 same with regard to the wharf we had placed there which they required 

 for their use, only allowing us to take off our profusions on condition of 

 a part being given up to them. 



There is no question that the act was deliberately done by the gov- 

 ernment of Venezuela. They fully understood what they were doing, 

 as they about the same time ejected from the Leeward Bird Island near 

 their own coast another party of men gathering guano there with whom 

 we had no connection. 



It is evident from subsequent developments the government of Vene- 

 zuela agreed to take the island and hold it for the benefit of a company 

 who had contracted with them to do so, and were to pay them a large 

 sum of money so soon as the arrangement was completed. 



Prior to the taking of the island a Danish sloop-of-war came up 

 from St. Thomas and stated to our agent. Captain Gibbs, that the 

 Danish government had been urged to take the island, but they had 

 declined, and that he was bound to Venezuela to inform that govern- 

 ment that the Danish government would not claim it, and that they 

 should not object to Venezuela's doing so. 



Captain Nickels, of the ship James N. Cooper, who arrived there 

 after Captain Gibbs and his men had been ejected, states that the offi- 

 cer in command informed him that the island had been taken by the 

 Venezuelan government at the instigation of the Venezuelan consul at 

 St. Thomas, and that no vessels would be allowed to load except those 

 bringing permits from the company who had contracted with that gov- 

 ernment. 



All this shows clearly and conclusively that the Venezuelan govern- 

 ment acted with a perfect understanding as to what they were doing, 

 and that right or wrong they would take the island in consideration of 

 the large sum of money they were to receive. 



