The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
Mr. GRESHAM TO BAYARD
Correspondence Concerning
the Venezuelan Boundary
Dispute.
A Belief That England Cannot Main
tain the Validity of Her
Claims.

Claims.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 16.-The
only reference in the published CORE
spondence of the State Department for
1894 touching the Venezuelan boundary
dispute is found in two letters addressed
by Secretary Gresham to ambassador
Bayard at London. One dated July 13
last and the other bearing date of Decem-
Der last are found. The first begins as
follows:
During your incumbency of the office of
Secretary of State you became acquainted
with long-pending controversy between
Great Britain and Venezuela concerning
the boundary between that republic and
British Guiana. The recourse to arbitra-
ton proposed in 1881, having been
supported by your predecessors, was in
in turn advocated by you in a spirit of
friendly regard for the two nations in
volved. In the meantime successive adj
vances of British settlers in the region adj
mittedly in dispute were followed by SINH
lar advances of the British colonial admin
ministration, contesting the supplanting
Venezuelan claims to exercise authority
therein.
Toward the end of 1887 the British
territorial claim, which had, as it would
seem, been increased by some 5000
square miles between 1885 and 1888,
took another comprehensive sweep
westward to embrace the rich min
ing district of Yuruari as far as Guaci-
pitt and this called forth your instructions
to Mr.. Phelps of February II, 1888, respect
ing the Widening pretensions of British
Guiana to possess territory over which
Venezuelan jurisdiction had never there
tofore been disputed.
"Since then repeated efforts have been
made by Venezuela as directly interested
party, and by the United States as the i'm
partial friend of both countries, to bring
about resumption of diplomatic relations
which had been suspended in conse-
quence of the dispute now under
consideration. The proposition to
resume such relations has, how
ever, been intimately bound up with the
ultimate question of arbitration. Until re-
Gently Venezuela has insisted on joining
to the agreement to arbitrate a stipulation
for the restoration of the status quo of 1850,
pending the proposed arbitration, but it
seems this condition is now abandoned.
"On the other hand Great Britain has on
several occasions demanded, as prelimi-
nary to an understanding touching arbi-
tration, that Venezuela shall definitely
abandon all claims to large part of the
territory in dispute and limit the eventual
| arbitration to that portion only to which
Great Britain has more recently made
claim
Secretary Gresham goes on to give at
| length history of the various attempts
that have been made by the United States
and by Venezuela herself to bring settle
ment by arbitration of this dispute, bring
ing it down to October 8, 1893, where it
now rests, when he says:
Il can discern but two equitables to the
present controversy. One is the arbitral
determination of the rights of the
disputants as the respective successors
to the historical rights of Holland
and Spain over the region in ques-
| ton. The other is to create new
! boundary line in accordance with the die
tates of mutual expediency and con-
sideration. The two Governments
have been so far unable to agree
/ on a conventional line, the consis-
| tent and conspicuous advocacy by the
| United States and England of the principle
of arbitration, and their recourse thereto
in the settlement of important questions
arising between them, made such mode
of adjustment especially appropriate in
| the present instance, and this Gov
eminent will gladly do what it can
to furnish determination in that sense.
With these considerations 1 commit the
matter in your hands, leaving to yourself
any convenient opportunity to advance
the adjustment of the dispute in question y
In his letter of last December Secretary
Gresham thus addressed Mr.. Bayard:
"In conferences with Senior Andrade
| during your visit home he doubtless ex.
pressed the earnest desire of his Govern
ment for a speedy determination OF
the question by arbitration 1 cannot
believe her Majesty's government will
maintain that the validity of their claim
to territory long in dispute between the
TWO countries shall be conceded as a con.
dition precedent to the arbitration OF
the question whether Venezuela is en-
titled to other territory which, until
very recent period, was never
in doubt. Our interest in the question has
repeatedly been shown by our friendly
efforts to enter into a settlement
alike honorable to both countries and the
President is pleased to know that Vene-
zuela is about to renew her efforts to bring
about such an adjustment. 1t is moi
doubted that you will discreetly exert
your influence in favor of some plan OF
honorable settlement"