The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-03
It Is Dinputed Terriforx.

WASHINGTON, April 2.-There Is g.
great deal more in the news from Faribault
of the grant of concession by Venezuela
at the mouth of the Orinoco than is indi-
Gated in the dispatch. This concession may
become more or less famous in the history
of the diplomacy Of the United States and
Great Britain. The concession is well call
culated to bring to an acute stage the
most troublesome diplomatic question be-
fore the State Department. and one which,
as stated heretofore. has caused the ad-
ministration more real concern than the
Alliance affair. the late Guatefnalan-Mexi-
dispute, and other international epis-
odes. The concession is in the heart of
the territory long in dispute between Vene-
zuela and Great Britain, and ambassador
Bayard for some time has vainly striven,
in accordance with a resolution recently
adopted by. Congress, to persuade Great
Britain to submit the whole dispute to ar
bitration, Great Britain being willing to
arbitrate only beyond what is known as the
Schomberg line. There have been intima-
tions that the administration, in event OF
a physical conflict over the disputed lands,
might deem it necessary, in the enforce
ment of the Monroe doctrine. to follow
up the moral aid it has rendered Vene-
zuela with more substantial and potent
assistance. The fact that citizens of the
United States, now, by this concession, are
thrust, so to speak, between Great Britain
and the United States, considerably in
creases the measure of this country's re-
sponsibilty.
Senor Andrade the Venezuelan minister
at Washington, when seen concerning the
Faribault paragraph, said that he had no
official confirmation of the grant of the
concession. but he does not doubt the corr
rectncss as.it il in line with reports that
such concessions would be made. The land
included in the concession, he said, is the
vital point of conflict between Great Britain
and Venezuela. The Orinoco is the great
commercial artery of South America, rum
ming far inland. through Venezuela, Brazil
and other countries. Whoever controls the
mouth of the river, Minister Andrade said,
will control this great commerce. Great
Britain has taken possession of Punta Bar
ina, at the mouth which is to the Orinoco
what the Island of Gibraltar is to the
Mediterranean. She has also equipped a
naval station on Trinidad island, just off
the mouth. Her claims embrace both banks
of the stream at the mouth. 1t is part of
this important strategic territory that Ven-
ezuela now grants to United States citizens.
The concession near Trinidad island is be-
lieved to be the Island of Patos. 1t is very
near to the British naval station and
particularly rich in asphalt
The present concession is the most ems
phatic declaration of ownership Venezuela
has made since 1884. In that year a con-
cession was made to Messrs. Fitzgerald
and Turnbull, citizens of the United States,
of part of this Orinoco territory. 1t was
about to be operated by a United States
company, known as the Manoa Company,
when Great Britain entered such an em-
phatic protest that Venezuela Cancelled the
concession. Since then the conflict between
| Great Britain and Venezuela has been waged
| through diplomatic channels. Now yene-
| zuela reasserts her rights and turns them
| over to United States citizens. The in
teresting questions thus arise: What steps
| will now be taken to assert her claimsT'
and will it endeavor to prevent the United
| States syndicate operating its concession?'