Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-18
DELIVERED.


Confined From First PngeD
claims there exists the most valuable
declaration. The Spanish government
never attempted to reply to tho Brit
ish claim. Lord Salisbury says:
"'rhe fundamental principles under
lying the Venezuelan argument IL that
I'm as much as Spain was originally
entitled Of right to the whole American
continent any territory on that conti-
nent which she cannot be shown TO have
cknowledged In special and positive
terms to have passed to another power
can only be acquired by wrongful usur-
patton and IL situated to the north of
the zone and west OF the Atlantic as
belonging to Venezuela as hers Of con-
stituted Inheritance in those reasons.
IT may reasonably DO asked whether
Mr.. olncy would consent to the arbitra-
ton Of these pretensions by the gov
eminent of Mexico raised on such n
foundation on large tracts which had
long been comprised In the federation"
The scbomberg Line.
Lord Salisbury then proceeds to state
the circumstances connected with the
making Of the schomberg line. He
says the British government notified
the Venezuelan government of its in
tentlon to Professionally survey the
boundary. At the very outside two
boundary posts, of Point Rarlma. on
the remains OF the Dutch posts, and at
the mouth OF tho Amacura, were re-
moved at the urgent entreaty OF Vene-
zuela; the concession was made on
the distinct understanding that Great
Britain did not abandon her claim to
that boundary. SchOmberg held that
Great Britain might Justly claim the
whole basin Of the Nurarl, but sugg est
ed that claims to this region be surren-
dered In return for the recognition of
the right 10 Point Rarima. The Schom-
berg line. says Lord Salisbury, was In
fact n great reduction of the boundary
claimed by Great Britain as matter
OF right and its proposal originated
In a desire to come to a speedy and
friendly arrangement with weaker
power.
The note next gave in great detail
statement OF the main facts Of the
discussion which has ensued with the
Venezuelan government. of Lord
Abcrdecns proposal, which made great
concessions out of regard for VeneZue-
Ia, Lord Salisbury says 1t remained
unanswered for more than six years,
wherefore the Venezuelan government
was notified that II had lapscd. Lord
Granville's proposition. also involving
considerable reductions from the
Schomberg line, was, he says. likewise
never answered. Lord Salisbury
charges that Venezuela has repeatedly
violated "the treaty OF 1875" by the
terms of which both governments
agreed TO refrain from aggression on
the territory In dispute, for which
reason, In 1850, her maJcsty's govern
ment decided not to repeat the offer of
concessions, which had not been re-
clprocated, but to assert her undoubted
right to the territory within the
Schomberg line, while still holding
open for negotiations and even arbitra-
ton, the lands beyond that, and which
they considered to be their .lghtful ter
rltory. The reference to the Nene2ue-
Ian declination to 0rbltrnte the title
OF these lands alone and lnslstence on
a full arbitration was gone into, and
Lord Salisbury says:
This contention Is hardly less ex-
cusable than would be the refusal of
Great Britain to agree in the settle
ment of the British Columbia and
Alaskan lines with the United states"
Lord Salisbury rapidly traces the his
tory OF the following negotiations down
TO 1857, when the situation had become
so acute owing to the Venezuelan de-
mands for an evacuation OF tho dis
puted territory by Great Britain that
the British representative at Caracas
received his passports and diplomatic
| relations were declared by Venezuela
| 10 be suspended. He says that no steps
| have been taken by the British gov
eminent to exercise jurisdiction be-
| yond the Schomberg line nor interfere
with the proceedings of the NeneZue-
lans beyond while at the same time
| Great Britain did not acknowledge
| NeneZuela's right to this territory.
| Great Britain has from the first held
| to the same View rs to the extent of
her territory. waving n portion Of Its
| claims, however. and being willing to
| arbitrate another portion. hut as re-
| CARDS the rest within the Schomberg
| line, they did not consider that the
| rights of Great Britain are open to
| question. II the concessions which
| Great Britain has been willing 20 make
from time to time have diminished, the
cause has been Venezuela's actions.
| The change In maps II easily ac-
| counted for, and the British govern
mont cannot be held responsible for
| publications made without their au-
thority. In conclusion Lord Salisbury
says:
although the negotiations In 1890,
1891 and 1898 did not lead TO any re-
suit her maJesty's government have
n0N abandoned the hope that they
may be resumed with better SUCCESS.
/ and that when the internal policies of
Nenezuela are settled on more dura-
| pie basis than has lately appeared to
be the case, her maJesty's government
may be able to adopt more noderat
may be able TO adopt n more moderate
and concillatory course In regard To
ms question than that Of their pfede-
| cessors
Her maiesty's government are sin
cefely DESTROYS OF being on friendly re-
iauons with Venezuela. and certainly
nave no reason to seize territory that
| properly belongs to her or forclbly eN-
tend soverelgnity over any OF her
population. They have on the con-
rary repeatedly expressed their readi-
nefs to submit to arbitration any con-
nleting claims OF Great Britain and
Venezuela to the territory which from
thelr. auriferous nature are known to
be almost OF untold value. But they
cannot consent TO entertain or 10 sub
nit to the arbitration OF another power
or OF foreign Jurisdiction. however EN-
inent, claims based on the extrayaEant
pretensions OF Spanish officials OF the
Iast century, and involving the trans
ier OF large number OF British sub
lects who have for many years enjoyed
me settled rule OF her majesty 10 that
~ dinsrf't r''s and iansrsl- So,