Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
the boundary between Venezuela and
British Guiana. as claimed by Venezuela.
TREATY OLE UTRECHT

establishing her possessions as they were
at the time OF the death of Charles H.,
which would include the territory as
claimed by Venezuela.
In 1921. I'm a treaty made between Hol-
land and SPAIN for the restitution or
fueitlves, II distinctly recognizes the
rights of the Dutch at the Essequibo and
the Spanish az the OrinOco.
In 1896. the representative OF the British
Government al Caracas requested the
Venezuela Government TO put light
house at Punta Barima and buoys at
the great mouth Of the OrinOco. to guide
navigatOrs. He thus distinctly recog-
nized the rights ana ownership OF Nene-
zuea. yet all Of the region In dispute Is
I'm the territory to which Salisbury now
claims the British right is so clear that
he will not submit II to arbitration.
In 1874. Lord Aberdeen offered TO estab-
llsh a boundary line to commence on the
coast at the Morocco river, hundreds OF
miles west Of the mouth OF the Orinoco
river. and from the Schomburgk line
which Salisbury insists shall be recog-
nized before he will arDitrate for the
rest
In 1871 the engineer. Schomburgk. ran
the celebrated line as his fancy might
suggest. without maps without data, and
without anything TO guide him except his
own wishes. He erected posts and
flags. and did many other things TO in
dictate Britain's claims 10 ownership
when Venezuela protested. Lord Aber-
deem. in 1872. directed them all to be
removed. thus disclaming ownership.
In a dispatch Of the lst OF September
1896, the British Governor OF Demerara,
"a portion Of British Guiana. declared that
the rights Of Britain extended only to
the River Pamaran, hundreds of miles
west Of the Schomburgk line.
In 1870 the British Court in Guiana re-
fused 10 take cognizance Of a murder
committed ~ an EngLshman in the ter
ritory now claimed by Salisbury. because
1t was foreign territory. and the British
Court had no jurisdiction.
RIGHTS OF VENEZUELA.
The evidence is all-convinclng Of the
rights of Venezuela II could be
enlarged to an almost indefinite extent.
Conscious Of the weakness Of his case.
there is no surprise that Salisbury should
refuse TO arbtrate He expects 20 ac-
quire by force what he il unable TO get
by right. Britain's conduct towards
Venezuela has been outrageous She en-
tered into a solemn compact I'm 1850, that
neither would occupy or cncroaCh upon
the disputed territory After 5grceing
to this. she has completely Ignored il.
and occupied the territory IN dispute and
exercised over II all the rights OF sover-
eighty.
She now refuses 10 admit Of doubt Of
her right to the territory then in dispute,
| but requires that Venezuela should adj
nit her rights to all disputed I'm 1870. be-
fore she will even agree TO arbitrate ter
ritory not then claimed
The settlement and occupation alluded
20 by Salisbury as resulting in hardship.
! II England should lose. We're made i'm
direct violation OF the compact OF 1850
Britain has made her cncroachmonts as
fast az gold has been found. In 1851 the
/ gold sent from Venezuela from the dis
| putcd territory amounted TO 233 s3i
ounces. Tn 1873 IL only amounted to about
5000 ounces. In the five years from
! 1855 to 1850 Brltish-Guiana on an average
yearly mined e57s pounds Of gold. In
/ 1893 she mined SOTO pounds Nothing
/ proves more clearly than this British ag-
| erosion. Each year. as the gold found
I became more valuable. she claimed the
territory and robbed Venezuela. Her
increased gold production and Venezue-
| las decreased gold production clearly
evince British aggression.
| VENEZUELA WISHES ARBITRATION
Venezuela has always insisted upon
| arbitration as a settlement. Lord Gran
Vile finally consented TO arbitrate the
| matter, and The treaties were prepared
! and ready for EXCHANGE. when there was
a change Of ministry. and Salisbury re-
| fused. Granville had also agreed with
Russia for settlement Of the Afghanlstan
boundaries, but there had been no exc
| change OF treaties Salisbury bitterly
opposed the settlement made by Granville
| with Russia. but he executed 20. stating
r1rI L. hf ..H a..
cessOr, having agreed. he considered
| himself and the nation in honor bound
| 20 execute the agreement thus made by
| his predecessor.
The cases OF Russia and Venezuela were
| Identical: yet. with a strong nation like
| Russia. he executed his predecessors con-
| tract, while. with a weak nation like
/ Venezuela, he positively repuliated a.
| Such conduct is consistent with Eng
| lands course. She conciliates strong ma
| tiOns and dOmneers over small ones
Salisbury has ever been the worst OF an
! the British statesmen in pushing British
claims in Venezuela, and preventing an
| amicable settlement Of the difficulty.
Viewing his present and past utter
ances upon this question. IL is difficult 10
| forecast what will be the outcome Of the
| present trouble. II looks very serious
II viii take wise and conservative diplo-
macy. both az Washington and at Lon
| don 20 prevent war.
, VIRGINIA COMMITTEE ASSIGN
MENTS
! At last the Speaker has announced his
committees. and the changes Of the Vir-
/ cinia members from those of the last
! two congresses are 50 great that COM
! parison IS out of the question. Some OF
| the members are half pleased with their
| assignments. but a majority Of them are
| thoroughly disguised. and will take but
very li,tle interest I'm their new duties.
Congressman W. 4. Jones Of the First
district. is on Election Committee No. 3;
! Expenditures Of the State Department;
/ Private Land Claims. and Public Lands.
Mr. Tyler. who was formerly on the
| Naval commit ee Is now on Military
| Affairs and Militia.
Mr. Elicit. of the Richmond district.
/ has a good assignment on the Interstate
! Commerce Committee; and he has an op-
portunity 20 change To- Rivers and Har-
I bors. but has not decided TO do so.
Representative McKenney Of the
4 Fourth district is on Railways and
| Canals and Manufactures.
Mr. Swanson, of the Fifth, IS placed
| on Post-Onices and Post-ROads.
Major i. j. Otey. of Lynchburg. Is on
| Levecs Of the Mississippi
Mr. Turner of the Seventh district, is
on Agriculture. Elections No. l. Expendi-
lures Navy Department and Territories
| lie has been more literally dealt with
than any other Virginia member.
Mr. Meredith. Of the Eighth. is on
| Civil-Service, and District Of Columbia.
General James A. Walker. Of the Ninth,
IS on Rivers and Harbors. and Elections,
/ No. 3.
Mr. Tucker, Of the Tenth is on Election
| Of President and Nice-President. and
| Foreign Affairs
on the whole. the Virginia assignments
are fairly good, considering the big Re
publican ma iority and the partisan meth
DDS Of the Speaker