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presents a question very similar to that presented in the Navasa
Island controversy.
In March, 1854, before the United States statute relative
to the protection of discoverers of guano islands was passed,
the agent of certain Boston merchants was on an expedition in
search of guano. He discovered it on Aves Island, and took
possession of the island in July of that year. In December,
1854, he was threatened with expulsion by the government of
Venezuela; and his principals appealed to the President for
protection. Later the Americans were ejected by the government
of Venezuela, and the Boston merchants claimed as damages the
sum of $341, 000 from the Venezuelan government, $312,500 of
which represented loss of profits which would have been made
from the sale of the guano.
On page 200 of the report appears a letter from the Sec-
retary of State in the Department of Foreign Relations of Ven-
ezuela, which claimed that island "as the successor of Spain,
its discoverer,” and denied that the island was derelict. This
letter was addressed to Mr. Charles Barnes, Minister Resident of
the United States.
Mr. Barnes replied, p.218: "it is not pretended that Venezue-
la can claim any title to the Aves Island in question by reason
of a contiguity....It is not pretended that Venezuela ever
established any such jurisdiction upon the Aves, or ever made
any such manifestation of title there prior to 1854 as other
governments are bound to respect."
EN