New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24

Csrumani toward the sources of the Cuyu uId
proper ana from thence toward It's far more
northern tributaries the rivers lruary CNuruarl ana
Irnang NuIuan) and mus approach the very heart
Of Venezuelan Guiana" But on grounds Of com
plasance toward Venezuela, he proposed tnat Great
Britain should consent to surrender he; claim 10 q
more extended frontier inland in return ior me ne
was on this principle that he drew the boundary line
which has since been called ny his name
Undoubtedly, therefore. Mr.. Olney is right when
he states tha 1t seems impossible TO treat the
Schomburgk line as being the boundary claimed by
Great Britain as a matter OF right or any
thing but a line originating in considerations Of
line was in fact a great reduction OF the boundary
claimed by Great Britain matter of right and
its proposal originated in desire to come TO a
speedy and friendly arrangement with ,n weaker a
Power. with whom Great br,ialn vas a. the time
and desired TO remain in cordial relations.
EARLY NEGOTIATIONS
The following are the main facts Of the dis
cuss,ons that ensued with the Venezuelan Govern
While MIR Schomburgk engaged on his sur
vey the Venezuelan Minister in London had urged
Her Majesty's Government TO enter into treaty
of limits but received the answer that If 1t should
b. necessary TO enter .nto snch d Tea.H; q So,
vey was any rate. the necessary preliminary,
and that odn hs Mas Pses1 Government were in
possession of Mr.. Schombursk's reports the Ven
a position to commence negotiations and in Jan
uafy 1914 NJ Fort;que commenced by stating the
Ths claim starting from such obsolete grounds
as the gnal discovery by Spain OF the American.
mnre or less vague character from the writings
Of travellers and nu, or m
ton OF the territory claimed DEMANDED the Esse-
qul0T rep 5f was returned by Lord aberdeen then
Secretary Of State for Foreign Affairs, pointing
greemen, if both sides brought forward preten-
SONS Of so extreme a character, but stating mar
the British Government would MOI .mtaie VI. f0I
tique in putting forward a claim which II cQuid
not be intorIed seriously to maintain Lord Aber-
deem then proceeded to announce me conce 10
which "out OF friendly regard to Nenezuela Her
nTorosed Inc starting from the mouth OF the
Nororo 10 the iunct % the River Barima with
which that stream approached nearest TO the Acara-
III ana thence following Sir r. Schombnrgks line
\ condition attached TO the prohered ces-
sion viz. that the Venezuelan Government should
erter into an engagement that no portion OF the
u ITO lime 10 foreign Power and that the Indian
tribes residing in 1t should be protected from OPP
10 answer to the ever received from
,he Venezuelan Government, and In 100 Her Ma
iesty's Government informed Her Ma1estys charge
danaires at Caracas that, as lhe proposal mao re-
maired for more than SIX years tnaccepted, 1t
must be considered having lapsed, and author
iZed him TO make comnunsa..oh 10 the ven
ozuelan Government 10 that effect.
THE AGREEMENT OF 1880.
report having at the time become current in
Venezuela that Great Britain intended 10 seize Ven
ezrelan Guiana. the British Government distinctly
dscajrned such intention but nasmuch the
Government OF Venezuela subsequently permitted
nroiects to be set for the occupation OF Point
Barima and certain othei POSITIONS IN DISPUTE the
s6 To- call the attention of the President and
Government OF Venezuela to the question; and 70 de
clare 10 them that while. on the one hand, Great
fiTI,a had no Intention 10 occupy or encroach on
the disputed territory she would not on the other
hand view Win Indifference assressons on that
The Venezuelan Government replied in December
of the same year that Venezuela had intention of
occpying encroaching upon any part Of the terri
tory the dominion of which in dispute and that
orders would he issued to the authorities in Guiana
10 abstain from taking any steps contrary to this
ThIs Constitutes what has been termed the agree
rnent OF 1850" TO which the Government OF Venezuela
isns have repeatedly violated in succeeding years
Their first acts Of this nature consisted in the
previous settlements, and the founding in 1875 of
he town of Neuva Provdencia. on the right bank
ieft hank The British Government, however con
sidering that these settlements were SO near posi-
cring also the difficulty of controlling the move
ments of mining populations. overlooked this breach
The Governor of the colony was in 1851 sent to
boundary. but he found the Venezuelan state in so
disturbed condition that it was impossible to
Without having effected anything
For the next nineteen years. as stated by Mr.
Olney. the civil connections IN Venezuela prevented
any resumption Of nesotiations
ernment had. for the second time broken THE
agreement OF 1880 by granting licenses TO trade aud
s"me wear that Government once more made an
overture for the settlement of the boundary Various
menced: and il not til 1879 that senior Roias
iegan them with renewal OF the claim 10 the
Essequibo as the eastern boundary OF Venezuelan
Guiana. At the same time he stated that his Gov
ernment wished Ito obtain. by means OF a treaty a
defnite settlement OF the question, and was dis
posed proceed to the demarcation the divisional
line between the two Guianas In a spirit of conca-
ton and true friendship toward Her Majesty's Gov
eminent.
THE ROJAs NEGOTIATIONS.
In reply TO this communication q note was ad-
dressed to Senior Rojas on the 10th of January. 1880
reminding him that the boundary which Her Males.
tvs Government claimed. a matter of strict right
on the grounds OF conquest and concession by
,reaty commenced @ q point nj thu mouth af the