I 452 AVES ISLAND. 



/ the undersigned that the better means of advancing it would be that 

 Mr. Turpin would be pleased to come on to this place, where the gov- 

 ernment resides, bringing with him all the documents and proofs on 

 , which the claim is sustained, the examination of which would place 

 the executive power in a position to appreciate the nature of the pro- 

 posed agreement. 



The undersigned reiterates to Sen. Turpin the assurances, &c. 



LUIS SANOJO. 

 Hon. Sen. E. A. Turpin, 



Minister- Resident of the United States. 



Mr. San/or d to Mr, Cass. 



Washington, Decemher 9, 1858. 



Sir: I have lately had several conferences with a gentleman of high 

 official position in Venezuela, who has just arrived from that country, 

 and represents, as he informs me, and as I have no doubt he does^ the 

 views of the Venezuelan government with respect to the Aves claim. 



The result of these conferences has been the conviction on my part, 

 founded on his assurances, that a prompt settlement can only be made 

 Avith that government by still further concessions on the part of the 

 claimants, and that the embarrassments created by an insidious enemy, 

 would, otherwise, be taken advantage of to create still further delay 

 and difficulty. 



We have named the sum of $200,000 as the least that would indem- 

 nify us for the actual losses sustained, and we are very reluctant to 

 make any reduction in a sum which we have regarded as a minimum. 

 Still, so anxious are we to have this long pending difficulty settled, 

 and so desirous not to stand in the way of the renewal of the most 

 friendly and cordial relations between the two countries, that I have 

 determined, consulting the best interests of the claimants, exposed as 

 they are to further delay as beforesaid, to accept a further reduction if 

 oiFered by the government of Venezuela, on condition of immediate 

 settlement. 



As the national convention, which must ratify, to make binding on 

 Venezuela, such settlement, will probably adjourn early in February, 

 it is possible that, in order to expedite this business, I, or some other 

 person, may proceed to Venezuela to represent the claimants, 



I have therefore respectfully to ■ request that Mr. Turpin be in- 

 structed to proceed immediately to the seat of government at Valencia 

 to terminate this negotiation, and that he be authorized to accept^, on 

 behalf of the government, such further compromise as he and the rep- 

 resentative of the claimants may mutually agree upon, or as he may 

 be authorized by their attorney or representative to make. 



With regard to the relinc[uishment of the isle to us, the desire was 

 expressed by the person referred to, that the subject be left for a short 

 time pending, in order not to embarrass the negotiations now progress- 

 ing; with Holland with reference to the title to ''Aves." To this we 



R> 



