Evening journal., 1892-09-13

The cruiser Chicago, $500 tons, with
the two-white starred pennant of
Rear Admiral John G. Walker flying
from the mizen mast, left the Brooklyn
navy yard on Sunday. accompanied by the
white cruiser Philadelphia They sailed
underlsealed orders for la Guayra, Veno
zuela
Since that time speculation has been
rife concerning the mission Of the two
vessels Of war.
One theory advanced is that the
Chicago and Philadelphia will join tho
Concord and Kearsage at la Guayra, and
make inquiry in relation to the .encroach
ments Of the British government upon
the territorial possessions Of Venezuela
at time when Venezuela was disunited
and weak
There is yet another theory that the
warships are sent to South America to
enforce the rights OF American citizens
and investigate the seizure by General
! Urdaneta of six refugees found on the
Red d steamer Venezuela several weeks
ago while that steamer was in Nonezue.
Ian waters
Ex-secretary Bayard's Explanation.
Hon. Thomas +. Bayard, who was Sec
retary OF State in President Clevelands
cabinet when the matter of British az.
gression in Venezuela first came promi-
nentiy before the public was interviewed
by an EVENING JOURNAL reporter at
"Delamore, his home, this afternoon.
After expressing his disinclination TO
criticize the United States government.
he expressed himself in the following
terms
"The question of the boundaries of
Venezuela where they approach those Of
British Guiana, has been for "A long time
n vexed question between Venezuela and
the government Of Great Britain or
rather private companies of British sub
jects engaged in gold mining Ia what is
generally known as the Qrinoco region.
From time 20 time, Maps have been
delineated of the supposed boundaries OF
Venezuelan territory and jurisdiction.
Serious complaints We're made by the
Venezuelan representatives In Washing.
ton Of the encroachmont of British juris
diction and of claims to navigate the
, Orinoco river to such an extent as would
, penetrate the interior of Venezuela and
) destroy the Independent authority OF
that country over q vast region of valu
able commerce which that country
: claimed as her own exclusively.
Z II was never disposed TO believe aftei
) pretty full examination OF the subject
q that there was any design upon the par
e of Great Britain TO expand her iurisdic
e tion as a nation over the territory in dis
q pute; but believe, and / think a tru
history Of the case viii show, that th
s differences had their origin in large min
] ing concessions obtained by British
d subjects, as private enterprises
% from the government of Venezuela and
- consequently, the Investment of grea
G deal OF private British capital in the de
q velopment of these rich mining regions
After these Investments were made m,
T. the property became valuable, thesl
. private owners found themselves
G not only without that protection
K Of established law which alonl
S gives property its security, hu
a that they were subjected, from time 4
/, time, to the exaction and tyrannical de
s mands of the Venezuelan officials
n Therefore IL was that they claimed Brit
d ish protection against spoliation by Ven
I ezuelan officials, and were desirous of
seeing the British jurisdiction ex
n tended over the territory in whicl
IS their mining operations were conducted
A 1T was only another instance of thl
q dependence Of the institution of property
r upon just laws honestly administered
= The region in regard TO whicl
,. these boundary differences exis
r Is remote, thinly settled and un
( healthy, with very few incident
N Of civilized government The miner
4 prefer British laws to Venezuelan au
v thonty, and have encouraged, undoubt
q odly. the expansion of the British bound
:. aries SO as to give them and their prop
e erty security under British laws.
e "The United States continued 90 prof
fer their good offices to both govern
ments-Venezuela and Great Britain
but the conduct of Guzman Blanco II
abruptly breaking off diplomatic rela
II tions with Great Britain prevented Lor
ii Salisbury from entering into negotiation
until diplomatic intercourse had beei
ID restored
n at was expected-and in fact quit
= openly charged-that Guzman BlancC
IA the president OF Venezuela, was croatin
ID difficulty in order to compel certain Eng
q. lish mining companies 10 sell him o
d. give him their stock but it is certai
IF that his actions stood in the way of a
or amicable adjustment of the boundar
Df question.
ir 'Mr Blaine's last note Of May ., 1891
IS is the final publication ON the subieC
81 excepting a note from Mr. Adee, of Jul
S O. 1890, to the same general effect. n
C. volume of Foreign Relations corre
r pondence has been published for 1891, q
m has been the custom heretofore.
il. As the attitude of the United STATE
j. was TO be one of impartial friendship ts
er ward both governments the present con
Y centration of naval forces is not explaine
is by anything in the published CORE
n Dondence thus far.
IN Doubtful Claim Of Jurisdiction.
% whether the more than doubtfl
80, claim of jurisdiction by the Unite
y States within the territorial waters
- another government which was appa
-o emily implied rather than asserted
!, the Barrundia case is now to be repeats
90 remains to be seen.
rs Certain IL is, the United States wou
re promptly enforce its own jurisdictic
over an persons charged with Violate
of it's laws who We're found within /
territory, whether of land or water.