Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-20

England practlcally aQIllltLeu lhat such
was the case.
In 1912 the British government notified
the government Of Venezuela that one
Sir Robert Schomburgk had been COM
missioned to mark out the western
boundary of British Guiana. Venezuela
was not asked to participate in the
matter, and as she was satisfied with the
boundary as it then stood, she took no
cognizance of Schomburgk's operations.
Schomburgk went ahead with his survey
and marked out a new line, something
like 100 miles west of the Esequibo river,
and taking in about 10000 square miles
of Venezuelan territory. The Venezue-
lans became so restless and excited over
thisapparent attempt to take their terrific
ry that the British government decided to
retreat little from its position. 1t an
nounced that this new line was not
intended as permanent fixture; but was
only run as q something on which to
base an agreement. The Venezuelans
continued to look huffy, and finally
Great Britain ordered all of Schom-
burgk's marks to be obliterated, and
apparently withdrew to her own side OF
the line.
The dispute was afterward renewed by
Great Britain, which country first claim
ed one boundary and then another until
it had made in all seven district claims,
each successive claim extending further
west into Venezuelan territory than the
one before. Sometime ago the Venezue-
Ian soldiers arrested some British agents
on the Ururuan river, some rs or 100
miles west Of the Esequibo, but within
the limits of the Schomburgk line, and
this action brought matters to phase
more accute than had previously existed.
The United States proffered its kindly
offices in the settlement of the dispute sew
eral years ago and endeavored to have
the whole matter submitted to friendly
arbitration. Venezuela was willing; but
Great Britain refused. After the arrest OF
the British agents, Great Britain demand
ed damages to the amount Of S6O,OOo.
Venezuela refused to pay on the ground
that such action would imply an adnis-
sion that all the territory claimed by Great
Britain was really hers, and she was un-
willing to make such an admission.
Great Britain began to threaten, and the
United States stepped in and insisted all
the more strongly that the matter should
be submitted to arbitration.
In his correspondence with Lord Sails
bury, Great Britain's war minister, Secre-
tary Onley has reviewed the whole dispute
between Venezuela and Great Britain.
H pointed out the encroaching policy of
the British and drew and expressed the
conclusion that if such state of affairs was
allowed to continue, it would only be a
question Of time until all of the weaker
American States should be absorbed by
European governments. This would
meanace every interest of the people OF
the United States, and consequently there
was nothing left but a strict enforcement OF
the Monroe doctrine, which requires that
no foreign country shall be allowed to
acquire territory in America except by
peaceful means. In effect, Secretary Olney
told Lord Salisbury that if Great Britain
could establish her right, to the territory
claimed, by arbitration, she could have it;
but, otherwise, she would either have to
drop the matter or whip the United States.
Lord Salisbury has taken the position
that the United States has no more right
to interfere in aquarrel between an Amer
lean State and foreign country, than she
would have to interfere in a quarrel be-
tween two foreign countries. He there
fore declines to submit the dispute to
arbitration, and there the matter stands.
Both countries seem to be unequivocally
committed, and unless one or the other OF
them backs down there must be war.