AVES ISLAND. 445 



tions of friendly feeling towards the republic of Venezuela, involved 

 as it now is in foreign and domestic difficulties, I have striven with 

 the claimants, as their agent, to reduce their claim to the lowest 

 possible amount that would reimburse them for their actual losses 

 sustained in cash, without reference to hypothetical or consequential 

 damages. Mr. Shelton, desirous to accede to the wishes of the depart- 

 ment, has consequently, though reluctantly, agreed to compromise the 

 Shelton claim for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars (|150,000) 

 and the relinquishment of the Island. The other claimants, Lang & 

 Delano, for themselves and Wheelwright & Cobb, have agreed upon 

 the minimum sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in full of all 

 their demand for damages, and Shelton & Co. have agreed in conse- 

 quence to hold them to no liability growing out of their occupation of 

 the island. 



Mr. Turpiuj I am informed by your letter of the 4th instant, has 

 been advised of this arrangement, and instructed accordingly. 



I deem it proper, as the attorney of all the claimants, to say that it 

 seems to me that the liberal course pursued by the claimants in agree- 

 ing to this compromise submitted to the Venezuelan government 

 should be presented forcibly to that government by yourself, and that 

 the sum be indicated as the ultimatum, to be responded to without 

 further evasion or delay^ and as dispensing with the necessity for the 

 procuring of further or additional proofs. 



If accepted, the sum of |200,000 is in solido, without reference to 

 details, items, or particulars, or relinquishment of the claim to the 

 Isle, as a compromise merely of the whole claim, and not to be con- 

 strued as an admission that they do not justly amount to more. If 

 refused, and the parties are put to the necessity of procuring further 

 proofs and incurring further expense and trouble, the ofier, as stated 

 when first made, is not to prejudice claimants against the recovery of 

 whatsoever amounts they may show their just damages, direct and 

 consequential, to be. 



The friendly feelings of the government and of the American people 

 towards Venezuela, struggling as she .is with foreign and domestic 

 difficulties, have, as before stated, had overruling influence in in- 

 ducing the claimants to agree to this compromise. They desire to 

 accede to the views of the department, and they trust that it will ap- 

 preciate their course by urging, as suggested, upon Venezuela to 

 accede to the proposition so made, with a view to take away any cause 

 of difficulty between the two governments, and which the State depart- 

 ment has been sq instrumental in efiecting. 



I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



H. S.. SANFOED, 



Attorney for claimants. 

 Hon. Lewis Ca&s, 



Secretary of State. 



