The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-20
ENGLAND's CLAIMS.
The shifting British Frontier In
south America.

From the New York Times.
The controversy between Great Britain
and Venezuela over territory is one of long
standing. Claims made by England have
steadily increased and have always been
resisted by the Venezuelans. The territory
in dispute is extremely valuable and fear
of losing it is thought to be the reason for
England's declining arbitration.
Great Britain acquired her title to the
colony of British Guiana by treaty from
Holland in 1914. the provinces transferred
being those OF Esequibo, Demerafa, and
Berbice. From that time to the present
day Venezuela has never recognized that
England enjoys legal right 10 a single foot
OF ground west of the Esequibo river.
IN lS4l Sir Robert Schomburgk, an en-
gineer in the British service, entered the
disputed territory without the concurrence
Of the British government, and proceeded
TO run a line from the Brazilian frontier
10 the Boca Granda, which was intended
10 establish definite boundary between
British Guiana and Venezuela. The SchOm-
burgk line was not at first claimed by the
British foreign Office as legal, ana mas not
until recently been designated in British
diplomatic correspondence as England's
primary base.
line" of demarkatiOn in 1871, he set up posts
10 indicate British dominion at Point Bar
ina, Amacuro, and other localities. The
Venezuelan government made vigorous
protest and Lord Aberdeen, then foreign
Secretary. promptly ordered the posts re-
moved. thus showing that England felt
no certainty of the Justice of her claims.
Lord Aberdeen, in 1914, proposed to the
VeneZuelans a boundary line Which did
not follow Schomburgks line 1t conced-
cd to the NenezuelanS large part or the
coast and the mouth Of the Orinoco river,
which Lord Salisbury now claims. Aber-
deems proposed line began on the coast
at the mouth of the river Morocco, run
straight into the interior, crossing the
SchombHrgk line at right angles. This
Aberdeen proposition was the first spe-
Cifc definition of Englands pretended
rights and the sole foundation for il in
International law was the shadowy allie
cation that Dutch settlements and Indian
treaties justified Great Britain in insti-
tuting authority over a portion of the
trans-Esquibo regions, the exact geograph-
ical limits of which had never been ad-
justed.
It is seen that Lord Aberdeen. in under
taking to trace British Guiana's extreme
rightful bolmds-thereby fixing a prece-
dent for future British foreign secreta RES
could not find excuse for carrying them
further than the mouth of the Morocco.
lie made no pretense TO ownership of the
grand mouth of the Orinoco. It Is claimed
to-day by Lord Salisbury, who not only
declares that England owns the coast up
10 the terminus of the Schomburgk line at
the mouth of the AmacUro but claims land
in the interior considerably beyond the
furtherest westward bend of the Aber-
deem line.
OF course. the Venezuelans declined to
accept the Aberdeen line, and nothing
further was done In the matter until 1850,
when the celebrated status quo was eS-
tablished, whereby Great Britain agreed
not to occupy or encroach upon the terri
tory in dispute in consideration of a SINH
lar agreement on the part of Venezuela.
What was meant by TERRITORY in dis
pute' was not stated. The status quo
has never been abrogated. 1t is claimed
oy the Nenezueians that England has re-
peatedly violated the status quo by in
Eading the territory far beyond either the
SchOmburgk or Aberdeen line.
Granville IN he
Nenezuelans anew boundary line. 1t be-
gan far north Of the Aberdeen line on the
coast, but short distance south of the
Schomburgk line, and did not include the
Barima river or island which are now
claimed by England. The Granville line
IN the interior followed the Aberdeen line
but gave Venezuela undisputed posses
sion of the mouth of the Or.noco
rms was equivalent to a formal disa-
EoWal OF any design upon the Boca Gran
de of the Orlnoco; in the most positive
style the exclusive control was assigned
10 Venezuela. .-.a
In 1883 Q.ord Granville being stiu at the
head OF che zoreign ofice), overtures
were made to Venezuela to have an amic-
able settlement of the case. Venezula
was anxious for settlement, and dispatch-
ed Gen. Guzman Blanco, one of the fore
most diplomats of South America, 10 Eng
land to act in the matter. Gen Blanco did
not waste his time in discussing maps
and ancient lines, but bent all his energies
10 secure arbitration of the matter. He
gained his point, for June 1S 1855 Lord
Granville assented to a treaty between
England and Venezuela. one clause of
which provided that any differences not
adjustable by the usual means should be
submitted to the arbitration of a third
power, or of several powers, in amity with
DoIn countries, without resorting to war"
This great diplomatic stroke Of Gen.
Blanco, absolutely bringing England to
bay on the boundary question: was, how
ever, Immediately made of no avail by
The overturn of the Gladstone ministry
Lord Salisbury, who took Office a few
DAYS later, promptly rescinded the arbi-
since that time England has persistentiy
declined every proposal to arbitrate the
matter.
England is not satisfied. with repudia-
ting the comparatively moderate bounda-
ny designations originated by Aberdeen
ana Granville, but has enlarged her terri-
torial claim with the utmost recklessness.
The Venezuelan government contends
mat the Essequibo-Pu meron-C uyuni strip
is the only land fairly in disn1ita -.