The National tribune., 1891-01-08

Britain in extending
her rule from the
base of British Gui-
ana over n consider
nj portion Of the United States Of
Neh 2uela, and next in forcing an accept
ance of this usurpatiOn upon the world
and thus upon Venezuela herself The first
part Of the process was completed, appar-
emily, on the 3lst day OF December 1882 SO
that British Guiana, which until 1856 had
been recorded in the British official publica-
tons as having only 10000 square miles
of area, and was so published IN the books
of an civilized countries, has ever since been
recorded in British official publications rs
having 10000 square miles. Indeed the
British "Statesman's Year Book y for 1856
anticipated actual possession in giving the
lat e. figures ne the area at that date The
second part-that is, making the world ac-
cept the usurp8tion as one not to be dis
turbed. OF as a rightiul accession-secms 10
be progressing with All the rapidity that
Great Britain could reasonably desire. Toll
sure, Venezuela, which mp TO the Aforesaid
3lstdayof December, 1857, had exercised un-
disputed authority in and over the territory
then seized, protested after the manner OF
an outraged Government, and made her
protest and reasons known 10 this country, a
sister Republic, especially; but for nearly
four years now not a movement has been
made, apparently, in rebuke OF the invasion
OF American territory by European aggres-
sion, nor towards restitution.
This matter has been called freshly to
mind by something recently issued under
the authority Of our own Government OF an
international character relative to al Amer
iCan countries, and so relative TO Venezuela.
The reference here Is 10 the volume, in paper
covers, entitled " International American
Conference which contains the reports and
recommendations Of that body and several
illustrative maps. One is entitled TO expect
all attainable accuracy in the leading fea-
tures OF such special maps, and u Is possible
that these are accurate In these respects but
ID they are, they also bear silent but potent
testimony 10 an unsupported completeness
and permanency in the forceiul occupation
OF American territory by Great Britain-and
this Is just what we and the large remainder
of Americans, North and South, want 10
know all about All the maps but one bear
the statement: Drawn by +. J.. Court,
under direction Of Lieut.. Geo. A. Zinn, u. S.
Army" One is map Of South America,
with heavy
BOUNDARY LINES
IN red ink over dotted lines in black, so that
these boundaries are very distinct. Another,
Of North and South America, has the bound
aries in dotted lines Of the color Of all the
map work The FIRST carefully informs the
reader that boundaries arc in dispute be-
tween the Argentine Republic and Bolivia,
between Peru and Ecuador, between Ecuador
and Colombia between Colombia and Ven
ezueia, between Venezuela aud Brazil, and
finally between British Guiana and Dutch
Guiana. Both maps consistently agree in
this that there is no dispute about bound
aries between Venezuela and Great Britain
as 10 British Guiana, and that The latter
contains all the area latest claimed for il.
which includes the territory seized from
Venezuela aud held since 1887. In fact
there never has been what could be prop
erly called a boundary dispute between the
two countries; but yet a rich and otherwise
very important portion OF Venezuela has
recently passed into the actual possession OF
the British. And whether by design or
through ignorance the maps Of the Inter-
national American Conference adopt the new
boundary assumed by the British as the set
tied and true one.
IL Is worth while 10 20 back and trace the
course pursued which has eliminated in this
az factO transfer Of American territory. and
it is at the same time very interesting as a
study in a statecran which is or has been
directed toward more than one portion Of
the American Hemisphere. TO enable the
reader 20 understand matters more clearly
than would be possible otherwise we pre-
sent herewith map Of the southeastern
portion OF Venezuela aud of British Guiana
4..Na Is.I. - A.
"Staiesmans Hcar-B Book and othfrauthori-
tative British publications, and as it is now
claimed to- have been since lssS al the lat
est. But the fact should not toe forgotten
that the map from which the one here pre-
scented was accurately copied liucuding the
line Of western and that part Of the northern
bounds Of Guiana made by the coast line
extending nOrthwcstward from the river
Essequib0 10 the mouth Of the river ORR
nocO from "Phillips's Authentic Man Of
the West indies printed IN London more
than 10 years before possession adverse 10
Venezuela was taken Of any part Of the re-
gon delineated This map Is without date.
but the writer hereof has had il nearly IA
years. a prophetic map, surelyi
Now let us see what are the origin and
nature Of the title Of our
"M0THER couETRYD
90 the portion OF Venezuela oC which she
has just taken possession. What las Iopg
been known as British Guiana Is a small
portion Of the main land OF South America
aud dI0ins NencZucla ON the east IN was
granted, with SurInam NOW Dutch Guianal.
% ihe Netherlands by Spain. who had held
ltslncc lis discovery, m the treaty of Mum
Fter, January ~, lGiS The possession
were defined By the treaty Of Arauiuez
juno 23 1871 a. Essequibo Demerara. Rcr-
bice and suIiuam. They extended west
ward 10 nlo river Essequibo, aud norlhward
10 iiF mouth.
by ihe treaty Of London, Aug. I3, 1914,
the Netherlands transferred 30 Great Britain
al these possessions except Surinum. which
Dr. still held By Holland. The Dutch claimed
no farther north than the Essequibo, and
could convey no farther An the lands north
and west from the river named were the
possessions Of Spain, and extended SOUTH
ward to the Amazon. They were known as
Guayana under Spanish and Venezuelan
rule. until l-Sl. when the State COMPRISING
them WIS divided and a part named Bolivar
Venezuela, which as a Captain
oi Spain had included Guayma. giIl in
cluded ID as a Republic after her successful
wan for independence, the boundaries be-
tween her on this side and the British pos.
sessions remaining unchanged by any a,t ar
omission OF the Republic, as they had rs-
manned under Spanish rule from 1915. Aud
thus matters Of possession and boundary
stood between Venezuela and Great Britain.
or her American possession, without terri
III N.