The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-26
BLOW TO ENGLAND'S PLANS
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN's DISPATCH TO
GOvERNOR-GENER LEES.
Features Of the Spirited Debate That
sage to the Colonial Council.

the increase Of police and the purchase Of
Maxim guns in the British Guiana terri
tory. The department has been furnished
also with the detailed action of the High
Council of British Guiana on the recon-
mendations of Minister Chamberlain. These
proceedings give the full resolution offered
by the Governor General for the purchase
of a Maxim gun and ammunition, uniforms,
arms and accoutrements. They also make
the surprising disclosure that the High
Council of British Guiana, after its MEM
bers had severely arragned Minister Cham
berlain for his precipitate action In recon-
mending Maxim guns, defeated the resolu-
tion for their purchase by vote of 10 to s,
thus rejecting the policy laid down by the
British Cabinet. The State Department was
put in possession of this information on
Wednesday last in an official communion
ton from high member of the diplomatic
corps. who regarded the subject as of such
importance that Secretary Olney should be
in possession of the facts.
When the High Council opened its ses-
sion two letters from the British Foreign
Office, signed by Minister Chamberlain.
were read. The government secretary also
announced that there was an important
telegram referring to the purchase of
the Council went into secret session. Mr..
Chamberlain's letter referring to the arm
ing of the frontier and building of a mill
tary road Is dated Sept Z. 1895, and begins.
Il have the honor to inform you that my
attention has been directed to the serious
position in which the colony Of British
After reciting the depressed condition of
the gold region, Mr.. Chamberlain contin-
ues: In its gold British Guiana appears
to possess considerable source OF wealth,
which IL
creasing revenue can be drawn IL measures
are taken to open up the country and to
render the gold-bearing region more ac-
cessible to miners that it has hitherto been.
To this end, one of the first and most i'm
portant steps is the construction of the
reaches OF the Barina and Barana rivers,
thence to be carried to the CuyuDi, at the
mouth OF Acarabisci creek, and onward. If
e'uyuni rivers. The fo1d, as have said, is
necessary for the development of the north
western district, which. SO far, is the dis
trict promising the best results as gold
field. But Ii is also of importance from
administrative and military point of view,
as it will materially shorten the distance
to the interior of British Guiana, and will
at the same time put in the power of the
government to keep more closely in touch
with the frontier and to repel any attempts
of aggression on the part of Venezuela.
The road will not, | understand, involve
large expenditure. and consider that no
time should be lost in und,ertakins its con,
=
the I'd inst, requesting you to bring the
matter before the High Council and TO OBJ
tain its sanction to the road being proceed
ed with Immediately"
SEEKING CAPITALISTS.
Mr.. Chamberlain then requests informa-
ton as to whether capitalists can be found
who will take a concession for the gold
field. covering the same territory as the
Venezuelan concession to United States
syndicate. He adds that inquiries are now
being made in London as TO the possibilities
of inducing the capitalists there to take
the concession from Great Britain. His
letter proceeds: I'm view of possible
early and rapid expansion of the gold in
dustry it will be necessary to provide ade-
quately for the safe protection of the dis
the borders of the colony secured against
incursion. The existing police force VIII
need to be strengthened for this purpose
and to what extent that may be necessary
I shall be glad to learn your opinion after
full consideration Of the subject. 1T will
~ racks at Truan and at one or two other
points, If the force on the border is
materially increased have to request that
to the various points mentioned in this
dispatch, and, indeed, to the whole SUBJ
iect in all its bearings, and that you viii
ste"s ete. 0y the JosEPH eastfS GHxMBEkLAIN
Governor u. -.
NJ. G.. Governor-general of British Guiana" !"
After reading the foregoing letter, the
government secretary offered the following
resolutions:
"Be it resolved that this court sanctions
the following expenditure, being charged
Purchase sa e." Of one Maxim gun and ammuni-
tion. 1850; two additional sub-inspectors OF
police, S72e; uniforms. arms ms ana accounTe-
ments, $435; a total OF S2,S35.
a sec
ond resolution appropriating S4yU for ~,
barracks at Uruan the point oc',rrsd wneed 'ne me
government secretary said with regard to
the purchase Of fs he al Mafm e .ns Of
State, Mr. Chamberlain. The government
had already voted a certain sum lor tne
humber, would be mounted on. field car,
rages and he thought he would be JUSTIFIED
in saying that this one wouiq nc net De pneea place.,
to the frontier. There was ALREADY an
armed force there which it was. desirable
to improve The men there had weapons
of defense and offense. but they would now
have a weapon of a inherent SORT The
government secretary SAID ne Regarded Mr-
porfant communication the colony of Brit
ish Guiana had received in recent years.
he dlspatea sp dvisng n sa her Mojesty in regard
to affairs Of British Guiana were not asleep
to it's interests and that they were not de-
were. 1t was an imperial policy that was
before them These were big WORDS, he
said. to use on the matter of the expendi-
.ture of so small an amount as $2.SSo for
Maxim guns ammunition, etc. but Ii was
not the consideration of that small sum.
but the consideration of the general policy
OF her NAjesty's government which was
now being put before the council in black
aud white 1t had not been easy for him
TO approach the subject. There were rea-
sons which he though the honorable MEM
hers would understand without his going
into them and they would see why he had
skirted what might be read between the
lines of this motion and why he had not
gone into further details on these Spoints.
He appealed TO the members 10 support the
resolutions for the better arming OF the
frontier.
THE PROPOSITION OPPOSED.
II was soon evident, however. that the
members Of the Hieh Council did not APP
prove Mr.. Chamberlains proposition for
guns and arms Mr. Duncan said they were
asked to vote money for the purchase of "A
Maxim gun to place on the frontier. which
Il took them six weeks to reach. The first
thing they might hear about that gun was
that 1t was being exhibited as curiosity
at Bolivar. QAughter) Until they had