The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-10-26
eala!gERLAINS ADVICE
Laughed AZ By the High Council
j.. Of British Guiana.
Els NAM PROPOSAL REJECTED.

The Council Refuses 70 Grant IN Appro-
priation for Arms and Ammnnitisp to
be Used Aenin.t yepez ueIans, but Pro-
sidss for Barracks at Ufusn.
WASHINGTON, Oct, a0-The state de-
partment Is in possession OF the full text
of the dispatches sent by Joseph Chamber
lain, secretary Of state for the colonies In
the British cabinet, to Sir Charles Lees,
governor general Of British Guiana, con-
corning the Strengthening Of the frontier,
tho increase of police and the purchase OF
Maxim guns in the British Guiana terri
tory. The department has been furnished
also with tho detailed action of the high
council of British Guiana upon the recon-
mcndations Of Minister Chamberlain.
These proceedings give the full resolu-
lions offered by the governor general Tor
the purchase of q Marlin gun and afnnu-
milton, uniform, arms and accoutrements.
They also make the surprising disclosure
that the high council Of British Guiana,
after Its members had severely arraigned
Minister Chamberlain for his precipitate
action In recommending Maxim guns, de-
feated the resolution for their purchase by
vote Of 10 to 8, thus rejecting the policy
laid down by the British cabinet.
Tho state department was up in pos
session OF this information ON Wednesday
last in an official communication from q
high member of the diplomatic corps, who
regarded the subject as Of such import
ance that Secretary Olney should be in
possession Of the facts. When the high
council opened its session two letters from
the British foreign Office, signed by Min
lister Chamberlain, were read. The gov
eminent secretary also announced that
there was an important telegram referring
to the purchase Of Maxim guns which
would not be read until the council went
into secret session. Mr.. Chamberlain's
letter referring to the arming OF the from
tier, and the building of military road, is
dated Sept. z, 1895, and is In part as fol-
lows:
In its gold British Guiana appears to
possess o considerable source of wealth.
from which 10 may be expected that an in
creasing revenue can be drawn, ii meas
urcs are taken to open up the country and
to render the gold bearing region more ac-
cessible to miners than it has hitherto
been. To this end one of the first and
most important steps is the construction
of the proposed road for connecting tho
upper reaches of the BNrin and Baana
rivers, thence to bo carried to the Cuyuni,
at the mouth of the Avarabizi creek, and
onward II necessary, to the junction of
the Uruan and Cuyuni rivers"
Mr.. Chamberlain then requests informa-
ton as to whether capitalists can be found
who will take concession for the gold
field covering the same territory as tho
Venezuelan concession to United States
syndicate. He adds that inquiries are
now being made in London rs to the
possibility Of inducing capitalists there to
take the concession from Great Britain.
His letter proceeds to urge the necessity
for tho purchase of Maxim guns and the
erection Of a barracks at Uruan.
MIR. Chamberlaln's propositions were
ably supported by the attorney general
and the governmcntsecretary, but the OPP
position excited many sarcastic references
TO the colonial secretary's letter, although
the amounts involved were only q, 1856 for
guns, ammunition and extra police, and
1900 for barracks at Uruan. Mr.. Dun
can quoted Artemus Wards reference to
letter, that 1t must have been s'wrote
sarcastic" The people of British Guiana,
he said, wanted their gold industry devel-
oped, but they were not anxious that 1t
should be done in foolish way.
Mr.. McKinnon admired Mr.. Chamber
lain's energy, but thought he was acting
too hastily. Wr. Webber declared that
the people OF British Guiana could not Of
themselves defend themselves even against
Venezuela, and that Mr.. Chamberlain APP
peared TO be laboring under the inspiration
of d local field marshal.
Mr.. Gllzean said 1t was perfectly impos-
sible that Mr.. Chamberlain could know
the condition Of affairs at Uruan. If the
Maxim gun had to be used the Venezue-
lans would capture it in short order and
the colonial force would be annihilated.
Mr. Chamberlain's letter reminded him Of
Lord Brassey's laying down policy for
the West Indies after his iordship had
taken a three months tour around the
West Indies in his yacht Sunbeam.
After further debate the motion was put
by the government secretary and defeated:
Yes, 8; nays, 10.
The second resolution, appropriating
$1,000 for barracks at Uruan, was adopted