The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-03
IMPORTANT DEAL
Rich Land Conceded to an
American Syndicate.
What venezueIa's Minister Says on
the Subject Of England.

EAhlbAuLI, MIMI, April o.-Donhiu
Grant. wealthy contractor Of this city;
w. II. Fisher late manager OF the Duluth
and Winnipeg railroad, ana j. A. Bow
man, q Grand Rapids (Minn.) banker,
have just returned from Venezuela, where
they obtained concession Of land ut the
mouth OF the Orinoco, running 2e5 miles
south and from 10 to 90 miles east and
west. 1t is rich in minerals mahogany.
rosewood and dyewoods. They also have
lhe right TO mine asphalt on q small ISL
and near Trinidad. The syndicate will In
vest q good deal of capital In working the
concession, and Mr.. Fisher Is to be the
manager.
There Is great deal more IN the news
from Faribault than is indicated. This con-
session may become more or less famous
In the history Of the diplomacy OF the
United States and Great Britain. The
concession Is well calculated to bring to an
acute stage the most troublesome diplo-
matic question before the state department,
and one which has caused the administra-
sion more real concern than the Alliance
offair, the late Guatemalan- Mexican dis
bute and other International episodes.
The Territory Long In Dispute.
The concession is in the heart of the ter.
eitory long In dispute between Venezuela
and Great Britain. and Ambassador Bay
,Jard for some time has vainly attempted.
In accordance with resolution recently
adopted by congress, to persuade Great
Britain to submit the whole dispute TO
arbitration, Great Britain being willing
90 arbitrate only beyond what is known as
che Schomber line.
There have been intimations that the
administration, In the event Of physical
conflict over the disputed land, might
deem 1t necessary in the enforcement OF
She Monroe doctrine to follow up the
moral aid IL has rendered Venezuela with
more substantial and potent assistance.
The fact that citizens OF the United
States now, by this cession. are there, so
TO speak. between Great Britain and the
United States, considerably increases the
measure Of this country's responsibility.
"Senor Andrade, the Venezuelan minis
Yer nt Washington, says that he has no
official confirmation of the grant of the
concession, and added that he does not
voubt its correctness, as it is in line with
che reports that such concessions would be
made The land included In the conces-
zion, he said, Ia the vital point Of conflict
between Great Britain and Venezuela.
Nno OTluoCO ID INC Brtat coinincrCioi nfeofy
II South America running far inland,
through Venezuela. Brazil and other
)ountries Whoever controls the mouth
of the river will control this commerce.
Great Britain's Action.
Great Britain has taken possession Of
Punta Barina. at the mouth which Is to
the Orinoco what the Island Of Gibraltar
ID to the Mediterranean. She has also
equipped naval station ON Trinidad
island, Just of the mouth. Her claims
will embrace both banks of the stream at
the mouth. IL IL part Of this important
strategic territory that Venezuela grants
the United States citizens. The conces-
sion near Trinidad island 8 believed to be
the Island OF Pstos. 1t Is very near to the
British naval station and particularly rich
An asphalt
The present concession is the most en-
phatic declaration Of ownership Venezeuls
has made since 1884. In that year CON-
cession was made to Messrs. Fitzgerald
and Turnbull, citizens Of the United
States. Of part Of the Orinoco territory. 1t
was about to be operated by a United
States company when Great Britain en-
tered such an emphatic protest that Vene-
suela cancelled the concession. Since then
the conflict between Great Britain and
Venezuela has been ragged through dlplo-
matte channels. Now Venezuela reasserts
her rights and turns them over to United
States citizens