The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-26
that LONELY MAXIM GUN
To Protect the Frontier of
British Guiana
THE HIGH COUNCIL DEMURS
To the Paying Of Good Money for
Curiosities
The Guiana Frontier Cannot Easily Be
Reached and II Is Not Worth
Anybody's Stealing
Associated Press Special Wire.

department is in possession of the full
text of tho dispatches sent by Sir Josep
Cham oerlaip, sscretaryof state for the col
onies in the British cabinet, to Sir Charlie
Lees, governor of British Guiana, con
corning the st:enR thening of the frontier
the increase of police and the purchase o
Maxim guns in tho British Guiana tsrri
tory. The government has been fur
nisned also with the details of the actor
of the high council of British Guiana
upon the recommendations of Ministe
Cham berlain. These proceedings give til,
full resolutions offered by the governor
general for the purchase of a Ma kim gnr
and ammunition. uniforms, arms and ac
coutremsnts. They also make the sur
prising disclosure that the high council
OF British Guiana after its members haC
severely arraigned Minister Cham berlair
for his preclpitate action in recommend
ing Maxim guns, defeated the resolu-
tion for their purchase by a vote of 10 to
8, thus rejecting the policy laid down by
the British cabinet.
The state department was put in pos
session of this information on Wednesday
last in an official communication to a
high mem Der of the diplomatic corps who
regarded the subject as of such import
ance thai 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 Cham berlain
were read. The government secretary
also announced there was an important
telegram referring TO the purchase of
Maxim guns which would not be read
until the counciiwent into secret session.
Mr.. Cham be lain S letter referring to the
arming of the frontier and the building
of a military road is as follows:
Seventh Septem Der 1885, shave the
honor to inform you that my attention
has been directed to the serious position
in which the colony of British Guiana
finds itself at the present time
After reoiting the depressed condition
of the gold region. MIR. Chamb erlain
continues: ain its gold British Guiana
appears to possess considerable source
of wealth, from when it may be expect
ed that an increasing revenue can be
drawn, il measures are taken to open up
the country and to render the gold bear
ms region more accessible to miners than
it has hitherto been.
To this end one of the first and most
important qeustions is the construction
OF tho proposed road for connecting the
upper reaches OF the barina and Barana
rivers, thence to be carried to the Cuyuni
at the mouth Of the Acara bisci creek AMI
onward if necessary to the junction OF
the uruan and Cumyuni rivers.
1.-THE road, as l have said, q, necessary
for the developmnt of the northwestern
district, which so far is sAe district
promising the best results as gold field.
But it is also of Importance from an adj
ministrative and military point of Jew,
as it will materially shorten The distance
to the interior of British Guiana and will
at the same time put it in the power of
the. government to Keep more closely in
touch with the frontier and TO repel any
attempted aggression on tie part of
Venezuela.
The road will not, I understand. in
volve large expenditure. and | consider
that no time should be lost in undertake
ing Its construction.
&c l accordingly telegraphed you on the
I'd instant requesting you to bring tne
mattei before the hi.h council and to
obtain its sanction to the road being
proceeded with Immediately"
Mr.. Cham berlain then requests infor-
nation as to whether capitalists can be
found who Will take concession for the
gold field, covering the same territory as
the Venezuela syndicate to the United
States syndiacet. He adds that inquiries
are now being made in London as to the
possibility OF inducing capitalists there
to take the concession from, Great Britain.
II IS letter proceeds:
In view OF possible early and rapid
expansion OF the gold industry II will be
necessary to provide adequate meaus for
the safety and protection of the district
so that order may Ds maintained and the
borders OF the colony secured against in
cursion.
1.-The existing police force will nee to
be strengthened for this purpose and to
what extent that may be necessary l
shall be glad to learn you. opinion after
a full consi Grafton Ut the subject.
1T will probably become necessary to
erect barracks at Uruan and at one or
two other points. if the force on the
border is materially increased.
II have required that you will give
your Immediate attention to the various
points mentioned in this dispatch and
indeed to the whole subject in all its
bearings, and that you will furnish me
a full statement of your views by the
earliest opportunity. | am: etc,
''JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
"To Gov. Sir Charles Lees. K.C.M.G g.,
Governor 6 eneral of British Guiana"
After reading the foregoing letter the
government secretary off red the follow
Ing resolu ton:
tions the following expenditure being
charged against the revenue for the cur
rent year: Purchase OF one Maxim gun
and ammunition, $3.50.
Two additional subinspectors of
police, $720.
Uniforms. arms and accoutrements,
$43ti.
Total, $685."
The government secretary offered a
second resolution appropriating $4,000 for
barracks at Uruan. the point where the
re ent trouble in Venezuela occurred.
In speech supporting the resolution.
the government secretary said with re-
gard to the purchase of the Maxim gun
that il was the direct wish of the secre.
tary of state, Mr.. Cham berlain. The
government had already voted certain
sum for the purchase of guns. Those
guns, two i'll number, would ne mounted
on field carriages and he thought he
would be jus ifad in saying that this one
would not lie placed on field carriage,
but would be sent direct 70 the frontier.
is was designed to improve. The men
there had weapons Of defense and offense,
but they would now have weapon of
different sort.
Tue government secretary said he re-
gar led Mr.. Cham bsrlain'u dispatch as
the most important ommunicat1on the
colony of British Guiana had re, eived IN
recent years. The dispatch. he said,
showed that those who were advising her
majesty in regard to the affairs of British
Guiana were not asleep TO It's il. teresAss
and that they would be DESTROYS OF let
ting things remain as they were. 1t was
an mDerial policy that was before them.
These are big words. he said to use in the
m tap nf o--n of n m