The record-union., 1891-06-17
THE TROUBLE ON THE oRINoCo.

THE TROUBLE ON THE ORINOCO.
In response to inquiries as to what is
the general issue between the Govern
ment of Venezuela and the Government
of Great Britain, which occasioned our
Secretary of State to intimate that this
country would view with more than
jealousy any permanent exclusive con-
troll by the British of the Orinoco, we re-
ply. Great Britain's British Guiana
borders on the east upon the territory of
Venezuela. The boundary line between
the Province and State has for various
reasons remained unsettled. The coast
surveys of neither nation have been able
to definitely fix it because so much has
depended upon treaty Interpretation, and
upon historical fact.
Close to the disputed line lie exceed
ingly valuable mineral deposits. They
are mainly upon the Venezuelan side, as
the line is claimed to run. But as it's
locality is disputed, the British have fre-
quently passed over into this mineral
territory, and this alleged trespass has
been denounced by Venezuela and pro-
tests duly entered. A few years ago
Venezuela besoughtsthe Government of
the United States to intervene and en-
deavor to settle the dispute. Secretary
Bayard accordingly presented the matter
to the British Foreign Office, but nothing
came of the attempted mediation.
Last year the British Government au-
thorized entry upon certain parts of the
disputed territory along the Orinoco
River, where there are exceedingly valu-
able mineral deposits. These the British
seized, and asserted their claim of right.
The Venezuelan Government entered its
protest and gave notice that it would re-
sist the trespass. Thereupon the British
sent to the mouth of the Orinoco gun
boat 10 meet, and resist if necessary, the
gunboat Faro, which the Venezuelan
authorities had stationed there. The
British commander ordered the Captain
of the Venezuelan vessel to lower his
colors while the Union Jack was afioat,
thus asserting British supremacy in those
waters. The commander of the Faro
obeyed, but with the statement that he
did so because cowed by superior naval
force. Thereupon the British landed a
force and occupied the disputed mineral
belt. In November last the intermedia-
ton of the United States was again asked,
and there the matter rests. If the British
claim is sustained, Venezuela will lose the
Yuruari gold fields, and the exclusive
control of the mouth of the Orinoco.
This magnificent river has long since
been declared free to the commerce of all
nations. The Orinoco is about 1,5OO miles
in length and has seventeen mouths, its
delta beginning l3O miles from the sea.
Some of the small mouths flowing north
erly empty into the Gulf of Paria, while
the others fall into the Atlantic direct.
The main stream for forty miles from its
debouchment is divided by a line OF
islands with two-mile channel on either
side At the extreme mouth the river is
about sixty miles in width but it is filled
with bar in the center of which is a
channel with fifteen feet Of water. Sew
eral of the lesser mouths are navigable.
The main river as far back as $50 miles
from the ocean is three miles in width.
Tide is manifest 24O miles up stream, and
there, at Angostura, the river is four miles
wide and 800 feet deep.
The Orinoco drains an area of 250, ,OOC
square miles, and the river has over 40C
navigable tributaries. 1t is the third
river of Importance of the South Ameri-
can Continent, and it lies almost wholly
within Venezuelan territory, the mouth,
however, emptying on the south against
British Guiana for very short distance
British Guiana lies east of Venezuela
and, with the Atlantic, forms its eastern
boundary. It is altogether probable that
the disputed boundary will be settled by
arbitration and that no conflict of arms
will take place. The Venezuelans ap-
pear to have the best claim, but it is i'm.
possible without careful and long exami.
nation of the treaties and history of the
country to say precisely what is the
legal strength of the respective dis.
putants in this matter.