AVES ISLAND. 285 



as closed ; secojidly, that the President of the United States could not 

 consent that the adjustment of the claim should be procrastinated, and 

 that longer delay in its acknowledgment must result in serious injury 

 to the friendly relations of the two countries. I added that other points 

 were embraced im my instructions which were of a definitive character, 

 but that in view of his statement that his reply was to be given at once, 

 and as I did not doubt to be promptly made known to me, I would take 

 the responsibility of limiting myself for that interview to the two 

 declarations above made, Avhich were manifestly important. to be known 

 and kept in view by the Venezuelan government in framing its reply 

 in the case. I said further that I might also conclude to wait two or 

 three days longer before asking a special audience of his excellency, 

 the President, with a view to the full execution of my instructions ; 

 that I would consider the propriety of this course, and advise him of 

 my conclusions. 



He replied, that as to the discussion being closed, Venezuela had a 

 right also to her own views on that point ; but that the matter being 

 under consideration at Washington, he did not see how it could be 

 further discussed here. 



I said, in reply to this, that I was not here to reopen discussion, but 

 primarily to make known to him, in the words of my government, and 

 upon its rendered reasons, its position as to the point of liability, and 

 to receive his answer as to that point, which I hoped might be speedily 

 given in a satisfactory sense. 



As I rose to take my leave, he said that he trusted that the United 

 States would only ask for justice in the case. 



I told him nothing more was demanded, but that I trusted that jus- 

 tice in the case would be speedily done by Venezuela, and thus the 

 conference closed. 



My course, in deferring for that day the reading to Mr. Gutierrez 

 of your No. 53, may not be, perhaps, in the strit^test compliance with 

 the letter of that instruction, but I trust the department will consider 

 the discretion exercised by me as warranted by the statements made 

 to me by the minister and the state of the case. 



To-day, after careful consideration of the whole subject, I have 

 deemed it proper, in view of my instructions, to request, in conformity 

 with my intimation to Mr. Gutierrez, a special audience of the Presi- 

 dent. I have endeavored to draw up' this request (copy of which I 

 inclose) in such a manner as to induce, if possible, this government 

 to frame their pending reply in the case in a satisfactory sense, and 

 give meq3romptly the proper assurance in regard to it. It is my pur- 

 pose to be governed in some degree by what his excellency may say at 

 the audience, in then determining whether to read my instructions to 

 him at once, or to wait some short time longer. I suppose the audience 

 will take place on Monday or Tuesday next, being the 2d and 3d 

 proximo. 



I hope to send you an account of any further proceedings which 

 may take place in the case on or before the 3d instant, by the same 

 vessel which carries this dispatch. 



