The Spanish training ship Nautilus visited us in June last; the Amethyst, of the British squadron, came in August last, and L'Avenir, belonging to His Majesty the King of Belgium, in September last. We have expressed our gratification over these courteous visits, and have rendered homage to the distinguished commanders and officers of these vessels during their stay in our waters.

An especially pleasing event, particularly so on account of the condition of affairs at the time, was the mission confided by the Government of the Argentine Republic to the battleship Almirante Brown, which came to Montevideo for the purpose of taking part in the festivities of August 25, our independence day. Argentine's participation in this patriotic anniversary brought about an excellent impression-an impression thoroughly demonstrated by our reception of the visitors—thus still further cementing the ties of traditional friendship between the two countries.

In December a French fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral Aubert, visited us on the highly flattering mission of saluting Uruguay and her Government. The officers and crew of the powerful warships were received by us with the greatest possible cordiality, French and orientals mixing in the greatest harmony. Our people, properly gauging the importance of this visit on international relations, enthusiastically joined in the reception and entertainment of the distinguished guests.

The Republic of Cuba has given proof of its intention to draw tighter the bonds of friendship between us by accrediting here a permanent diplomatic mission, which has been received by my Government with high pleasure.

The Argentine Republic proposes to celebrate this year, in May, its hundredth anniversary by means of congresses, conferences, and expositions, in which we will be represented by official delegates, having accepted, with the best wishes, the invitations sent, and joining with great pleasure in this glorious anniversary of a friendly country.

This date coincides with the Fourth Pan American Congress, which is to be held in Buenos Aires also, and to which delegates will be sent to take part in its deliberations. On May 14, 1909, the ratifications of the naturalization treaty celebrated between the Republic and the United States of America were exchanged in the ministry of foreign affairs; and on November 15 last the treaty on the extradition of criminals, celebrated between the Republic and Chile, was also ratified in the same manner. Consequently these two conventions are now a part of our international legislation. The Goverment is giving due consideration to various drafts of international treaties on arbitration, extradition of criminals, and commerce.

For the purpose of drawing up such conventions, on bases of reciprocal advantage to the contracting parties, I have, with the consent of the permanent commission, confided to the minister for foreign affairs, Antonio Bachini, a special mission in Europe.

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF PARAGUAY TO THE PARAGUAYAN CONGRESS.

No. 1.]

Minister Morgan to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Montevideo, April 29, 1910. SIR: I have the honor to transmit the message which the President of Paraguay recently sent to Congress, and which was printed in El Diario, of Asuncion, on April 1. A translation in summary form of the message is also inclosed.

I have, etc.,

[Inclosure-Translation.]

EDWIN V. MORGAN.

Message of the President of Paraguay.

EXTRACT.

International conventions have been drawn with the following countries:

A naturalization treaty with the United States.

A convention with Argentina for the simplification of the legalization of rogatory letters.

An arbitration treaty with the United States.

Within a short time the ratifications of an extradition treaty with Austria-Hungary will be exchanged.

Extradition treaties with Italy, England, and the United States are now before your honorable body, and I recommend that they receive your prompt action.

The Executive believes it advantageous to approve the conventions signed at the International American Congress and The Hague Peace Conference, and for this purpose it will in a short time send you a message, accompanied by the corresponding documents.

The necessity of exercising proper vigilance over the jurisdictional waters of our rivers, which in great part are exercised in common with neighboring States, gave rise during the recent revolution to unforeseen incidents, which showed the necessity of beginning negotiations for a convention which shall establish the procedure of fluvial police. Meanwhile my Government maintains that, under the present circumstances, in default of an express convention, Paraguay has the right to claim the same practices and exercise the same powers as are recognized reciprocally by other countries in their treaties, laws, or decrees regarding the navigation of common rivers.

VENEZUELA.

CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST CENTENARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF VENEZUELA.

File No. 23905-1.

No. 530.]

Chargé Whitehouse to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,

Caracas, March 31, 1910.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose you herewith copies and translations of the program of the ceremonies in connection with the celebration of the centennial of the independence of Venezuela.

I am, etc.,

[Inclosure.-Translation.]

SHELDON WHITEHOUSE.

Gen. Juan Vicente Gomez, Provisional President of the United States of Venezuela. In fulfillment of the provisions of the executive decree of April 19, 1909, the project submitted to the Government of the Republic by the centennial board being approved; and whereas the 19th of April, 1910, completes the first centennial of the events which history considers as initial to the independence of South America, I decree:

ARTICLE 1. The ceremonies commemorative of the centennial of the independence of Venezuela will begin on April 19, 1910.

ART. 2. The national pantheon will be reconstructed in a form worthy of its high purpose.

ART. 3. There are created (1) the Military Academy of the Republic; (2) the National Nautical School; (3) a normal school; (4) a botanical garden.

ART. 4. There will be constructed

1. A steel dry dock in Puerto Cabello to meet the necessities of the national fleet and the national and foreign merchant marine.

2. A building for the national library.

3. A fireproof building for the principal office of public registry and national archives. 4. A building for surgical operations in the near vicinity of the Hospital Vargas and independent of its main building.

5. A national post-office and telegraph building,

ART. 5. In conformity with the legislative resolution of August 4, 1909, the census of the nation is to be taken.

ART. 6. The house where Simon Bolivar was born, in the city of Caracas, having been acquired for the nation by popular subscription, shall be reconstructed with all fidelity possible to the form it had in 1783. There shall be established in the old mansion the Bolivar museum, and its walls shall be dedicated to narrating in fresco painting or on canvas the life of the father of the country.

The positions of director of the national pantheon and of the Simon Bolivar house will be long-term appointments, and for their discharge there will be named preferably the descendants of distinguished liberators or veterans of the army of the Republic worthy of the honorable charge.

ART. 7. There shall be erected in the gardens of the independence driveway of the capital of the Republic the busts of Jose Maria Espana, Francisco Salias, Ĝen. Jose Felix Ribas, Manuel Gual, and Jose Cortes de Madariaga.

ART. 8. Commemorative inscriptions shall be fixed in the places and edifices celebrated in the annals of the 19th of April, 1810, 5th of July, 1811, and of the patriotic society of that epoch.

ART. 9. The following congresses will solemnize the commemoration of the centennial:

1. A municipal congress, composed of one delegate for each illustrious council of the Republic.

2. The first Venezuelan congress of medicine.

ART. 10. The Governments of the Latin-American Republics shall be invited to a conference to be held at Caracas, to celebrate an international telegraphic convention, by which the telegraphic communication between said Republics is to be established and regulated.

ART. 11. The Governments of the Republics of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia shall be invited to concur at the formation of the first Bolivar congress, which shall be held at Caracas on the first five days of July, 1911, to treat of matters of common interest of all kinds.

ART. 12. The following contests are established:

1. Of rural industry, for the products of agriculture and "cria" of the country, best prepared for home consumption or for exportation, such as honey, wax, cheese, butter, feculæ, and various cottons, oils of all classes, sugar, fiber, etc., as well as the utensils and machines employed in preparing them, always provided that they be invented or improved upon in Venezuela.

2. Of horticulture and floriculture, for the most varied and complete collections of vegetables and flowers cultivated in the federal district, especially when they proceed from the primitive plants of the country that have been improved by cultivation. 3. Of zoology, for notable specimens of stock animals raised or capable of being raised in the country, and of animals whose feathers or skin may be industrially

useful.

4. Of fine arts, in conformity with the determination of the academy of that branch. ART. 13. Let two expositions be organized:

1. An exposition of national fine arts, of objects of historical interest and photographs of memorable sites, models, and natural beauties of the country.

2. An international exposition of school furniture and articles useful in teaching, destined to call attention to the models most adequate to the schools and institutions of learning in the Republic.

ART. 14. Let the exploration commission provided for in the executive disposition of March 29, 1909, be organized.

ART. 15. The atheneum of Caracas is established.

ART. 16. Let the grounds of the hippodrome in the Avenue El Paraiso be acquired, which shall be used for the contests of zoology, floriculture, horticulture, and rural industries.

ART. 17. The following works shall be printed or reprinted at the expense of the nation:

(a) The Diary of Bucaramanga.

(b) Supplement of the "Memorias del General O'Leary" (Vol. III), and the correspondence of the liberator (1829-1830).

(c) Defense of the liberator by Don Simon Rodriguez.

(d) History of Venezuela, documents and supplement, by Francisco Javier Yanes. (e) Contemporaneous History of Venezuela, by Dr. Gonzalez Guinan.

Book of Acts of Congress of 1811.

First edition of Physical and Political Map of Venezuela, scale to the millionth.
Plan of Caracas in 1810.

i) Patriotic Songs (1810-1850).

Acts and Works of First Venezuelan Medical Congress.

(k) Musical Compositions of Manuel L. Rodriguez.

(1) The Centennial Book, with the story of the commemoration, results of the contests, etc.

ART. 18. On December 17, 1910, anniversary of the death of Simon Bolivar, solemn funeral services shall be celebrated in the Holy Metropolitana Church.

ART. 19. Let the following monuments be erected:

1. A monument dedicated to the glory of Antonio Ricaurte in the same place he heroically died in San Mateo.

2. In commemoration of the meeting that took place in the town of Santa Ana for the adjustment of the war between Gens. Bolivar and Morillo, and of the prayer of the latter that a monument would be raised on the spot where both chiefs embraced; let a prismatic column be raised in Santa Ana on which shall be placed with appropriate inscriptions the stone set up by the republican and royalist officials to mark the memorable site.

ART. 20. There is created a medal commemorative of the first centennial of the Republic of Venezuela.

ART. 21. The Republics of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, our sisters in the glory of the liberating epic poem, will be especially invited.

ART. 22. For the purpose of constantly showing that the emancipating revolution neither did nor could sever the bonds that unite Venezuela to the mother country, let there be communicated to the Government of the Spanish nation the pleasure

67942°-FR 1910-55

with which Venezuela would see her represented in the ceremonies to which the present decree refers.

ART. 23. In recognition of the services lent to the cause of the independence by Great Britain and Haiti, let the Governments of these two friendly nations be also specially invited to assist in the commemoration of the centennial.

ART. 24. The order of the ceremonies will be, with special programs, as follows: April 19, 1910.-Opening of the contests indicated in article 25; installation of the central board of the national census; initial ceremony of the reconstruction of the national pantheon; initiation of the work of the building for the national library; laying of the corner stone of the building for surgical operations.

June 24, 1910.-Opening of the work for the building for the office of registry and national archives; initial ceremony of the work of the mail and telegraph building. July 5, 1910.-Opening of the Military Academy and Nautical School; inauguration in La Guaira of the wireless telegraph; promulgation of the verdicts settled upon in the contests to which article 25 refers.

July 24, 1910.-Solemn delivery to the nation of the house where the liberator was born.

October 28, 1910.-Opening of the contest of rural industries; installation of the atheneum.

December 9, 1910.-Inaugural session of the telegraphic conference of the LatinAmerican Republics.

December 17, 1910.-Solemn funeral honors to the liberator in the Holy Metropolitana Church.

December 19, 1910.-Inauguration of the Avenue "19 of December"; opening of the school-furniture exposition.

January 1, 1911.—Inauguration of the national library building; inauguration of the surgical operation building; installation of the normal school.

April 19, 1911.-Installation of the capital of the congress of municipalities; inauguration of the national pantheon; opening of the contest of floriculture and horticulture; inauguration of the building for the office of the principal registry and national archives; inauguration of the post and telegraph building; opening of the fine arts expo

sition.

June 24, 1911.-Installation of the first Venezuelan Medical Congress; opening of the zoological contest; inauguration of the "Carabobo" monument in the independence driveway; opening of the fine-arts contest.

July 1, 1911.-Installation of the first Bolivar Congress.

July 5, 1911.-Placing of the book of the acts of the congress of 1811 in the coffer destined for this purpose and the solemn handing over of the key of said coffer to the President of the United States of Venezuela; closing of the first Bolivar Congress; dedication of the house where the liberator was born; inauguration of the steel dock in Puerto Cabello; inauguration of the busts and monuments.

July 24, 1911.-Inauguration of the Bolivar Museum.

ART. 25. The competitive contests for the projects and sketches of the works prescribed in articles 2, 4, 8, 19, and 20 of this decree, and for the coffer and key required by the decree of January 1, 1910, shall be opened by special resolutions on the 19th of April, 1910.

ART. 26. The minister of finance and public credit will solicit the additional credit required for the execution of the present decree and of the entertainments and solemnities consequent thereto.

ART. 27. All former dispositions contrary to this decree are revoked.

ART. 28. The attendant resolutions to this decree will be issued by the respective federal departments.

Given, signed, sealed with the seal of the Federal Executive, and countersigned in the Federal Palace in Caracas, March 19, 1910, the one hundred and fifty-second. [Here follow signatures of President and cabinet ministers.]

File No. 23905/3A.

President Taft to the President of Venezuela.

[Telegram.]

THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, April 19, 1910.

On this centennial anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Venezuela I have the honor to convey to your excellency and to