The National tribune., 1891-01-08

something else, perhaps the Amazon, and
left his acts to have their intended effect.
Upon being appraised of Schombergk's ex-
traordinary operations Venezuela protested,
and Great Britain explained that The monu-
ments were not erected rs signs Of possess
sion, and ordered them TO be removed. The
explanation does not seem TO have ex-
planned, however; for if not indicating at
least a claim intended TO be enforced, why
were they erected, and why was a survey
authorized which was thus assumed TO be
entirely without meaning by Great Britain :?
Looked at from the point of view Of the
/ supposed explanation, the action Of the Brit
ish authorities and agents was alarming.
From the present point OF view il was inten-
tiOnally sinister.
Reasonably the suspicious Of Venezuela
were not allayed, and ia 1874 she asked for
treaty 10 set her entirely AT rest, with the Is
sequibO as the still Acknowledged boundary
This request was renewed at a later day, aud
then Lord Aberdeen made the third unset
tllng move In this long game, the survey and
the disclaimer being the first two. My Lord
proposed that the River Morocco, the next
north OF the Essequibo except the PumarOn.
which enters the ocean nearly with il behind
Cape Nassau, should be the accepted bound
my AhlH MNhih NAAt Llit DAiiIhh NDAlte
control Of the Esscquib0 and considerable
more territory, and, as his Lordship bencvo-
lently suggested, il would leave TO Vene-
zuela still the free ownership Of the Orinoco.
As this proposition was equivalent 10 saying
When get what want Of your territory
you will yet have more than take,n IL was
declined both as proposition and a conccs-
sion.
Six years later, in 1850, rumors began to
be heard that Great Britain wanted 10 claim
Venezuelan Guayana. Perhaps it wOnld
not be difficult to surmse how the rumors
were set afloat, considering all the cTcum-
stances. The foundation for such rumors
was denied by the authorities of Great Brit
ain in this sllilfully unsettling way, namely,
that there was no idea of eBcroaching on
the territory in dispute Now, so far,
what territory had ever been in dispute?
Did Lord Aberdcens rejected proposal of
1914, that the Morocco should thenceiorth
be the northern boundary. make disputed
territory for the first time2 What basis Of
right had the British gained, and how?
STU Venezuela urged, from time 10 time
treaty Of recognition OF her boundary
rights, especially in 1876, and finally, in
1881, Lord Granville proposed a boundary
line ending on the sea % miles east Of the
right shore o. the Barima River, which line
would, ID was suggested, leave 10 Venezuela
=" the DaTdanelles OF the OHnOco" and
DOMINION OVER ITS MOUTHS;
THAT is, its principal one-for the British
Island Of Trinidad dominates all the other
mouths, whatever may he their Importance
This most advanced proposition for gratu-
itOus slice OF Venezuelan territory was re-
specially, as 10 form, declined. A look at
the map Will show the progress made by
Great Britain in what had virtually become
demands upon Venezuela for territory.
The condition Of affairs as they now stood
had become exceedingly interesting, Ger
tainly so to the parties Immediately con-
cerued, and one might suppose TO any nation
interested in what is remembered as the
Monroe doctrine" Some time before Phil
lipss map, before alluded 10, printed in Lon
don and labeled authentic showed British
Guiana as bounded on the Venezuelan side
/ according 10 the disclaimcd Sch0mbergk
survey Of 1871, aud extending north and
westward not only 10 the point % miles east
from the Barma River, suggested by Lord