The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-04-10
A COMPLICATION.

A COMPLICATION.
Venezuela Grants Concession to Ameri.
cans in Disputed Territory.
Faribault, Minn. April 3.-Dpnald
Grant, a wealthy contractor of this
city, j. II. Fisher, late manager Of
the Duluth g. Winnipeg railroad and
J. Bowman, a Grand Rapids, Mimi,
banker have just returned from Ven
czuela, where they obtained conccs-
sion of land at the mouth Of the
Orinoco river, running 125 miles
south and from fifteen to fifty miles
east and west. 1t is rich in minerals,
mahogany, rosewood and dycwoods
They also have the right to mine
asphalt on small island near 'Trini-
dad. The syndicate will invest Il
good deal Of capital in working the
concession and Mr.. Fisher will be
manager.
Washington, April 3.--Therc is a
great deal more in the news from
Faribault Of the granting Of a con-
cession at the mouth Of the Orinoco
by Venezuela than is indicated in
the dispatches from there. This con-
cession may become more or less
famous in the history Of diplomacy
of the United States and Of Great
Britain. This concession is will cal
culated to bring to an acute stage
the most troublesome diplomatic
question before the state department
and one which has caused the admin
istration more real concern than the
Allianca incident, the late Guatcma.
Ian mexican dispute and other inter
national episodes. The concession is
/ in the heart Of territory long in dis
putc between Venezuela and Great
Britain and Ambassador Bavard has
for some time vainlv strivcn, in ac.
cordance with a resolution recently
: adopted by congress, to persuade
Great Britain to submit the whole
dispute to arbitration, Great Britain
being willing to only to arbitratt
beyond what is known as the Schom
berg line. There have been intima
+i0nc that thn m 1ulin ia ~ inn in + n,
} event Of a physical conflict over The
DISPUTED lands, might deem it nee
} essary in the support of the Monroe
: doctrine to follow up the moral ait
it has rendered to Venezuela will
more substantial assistance. Tbs
\ fact that citizens Of the United Stste
G are now thrust by this concession, s.
: to speak, between the United State
$ and Great Britain considerably in
$ creascs the measure Of this govern
c mcnt's responsibility.
+. Senor Andreadc, the Venezuela
: minister at Washington, says he ha
: official confirmation Of The grant, bu
s admits that he does not doubt it
correctness, as it is in line with re
j. ports that such concessions would b
l. made. The land included in tn
5 concession is the vital point Of contlic
% between Great Britain and NencZUe
e la. The river is in the great con
&c mercial center Of South Amcrc;
}, running far inland through Venczt
IL ella. Brazil and other COuntrie:
VI Whoever controls the mouth Of til
1t river will control this great con
. merce.
y Great Britain has taken posscssic
~ Of Punta Barina, at the mouth OF tt
)e river which IS to the Orin0cO VIII
Vc the island of Gibraltar is to Il
c. Mediterranean She has also cqu
ar ped naval station on the island
es Trinidad, Just off the mouth. II
;r- claims embrace both banks Of t.
at stream at it's mouth. 1t is part
VI this important stragctic terrific
we which TcncZucla now grants to ci
rs. Zens of the United States. The &C
ar ccssion near the island OF Trinid
oe is believed to be l'atos island. 1t
kc very near the British naval stati
III and particularly rich in asphalt.
IN The pressed concession is the nj
emphatic declaration Of oWncrsl
Venezuela has made since 1884.
that year a concession was made
crs Messrs. Fitzgerald and Turnb'
Ihe citizens Of the United States, OF p
feu Of this OrinOco territory. 1t '
ia about tn be operated by a commisS
req as the NanoA company when Or
5ls- Britain entered such an cmpha
ur- protest hat Venezuela cancelled
tnc concession. Since then the cont
All between Great Britain and Ecncz
'cly III has VHIed through djplol!
he channels, now Ncnrz!"i;l rc;l~.se
ms her RIGHT, a.lh tUrns them over
United States citizens, ihc int
''o csting question then arises: u
'''' StcpS vii! nov: hn taken to assert
any c,ni,,,>? and vii! il pn@cHvc.r 10