Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-28
< MORNING, JUNE %. 1895.

men IN the United States are interested.
The concession had formerly been had
by British concern. who had secured
II from Blanco. The Crespo govern
ment favored the American company.
but the negotiations had halted.
urged upon the various members Of the
cabinet the desirability of giving our
American friends the concession. II
was frankly stated by one of the cab
met officers that what stood in the way
was the financial interests of Vene-
zuela After talking with one of the
Americans interested, I assured this
cabinet officer that, if need be. an
American bank, with twenty millions
OF capital, would be at once established
at Caracas. as a financial supporter 10
the government That afternoon the
cabinet met and remained IN session
for two hours, cancelling the concession
OF the British concern and giving II
absolutely TO the American company.
The Americans Immediately sent their
men to Trinidad island, whence they
will 20 TO various points on the conces-
sion and take formal possession Of It.
the rich gold mines and a part of it
is in the territory claimed by Great
Britain. Should the Americans meet
with any opposition by the British, the
subject undoubtedly will be brought
to the attention Of the State Depart
ment in the form of protest"
Col. Livingston was asked as TO the
results of his Investigation of the Brit
ish claims.
"I found" said he "tnat our past IN
formation has been very meagre, and l
brought back many maps and docu-
ments which I hope will throw light on
the subject The British have no less
than seven lines as their boundary
claim. The first four lines were found
not to include the gold country and tha
land commanding the mouth of the
Orinoco river. AS result tho british
have been pushing their lines further
inland until they now claim all the
gold fields and the lower Orinoco coun-
try It is believed beyong Question that
much of this territory belongs to Ven
ezuela, and in any event it is only just
that the subject should be passed upon
by an impartial commission or arbitra-
tion. as the United States has sug-
gested.
But suppose Great Britain declines
to arbitrate, what will the United
States do?"
Congress will certainly take UP the
question as soon as it reassembles, II
indeed the executive branch of the Gov
ernment has not passed on It IN q very
definite form by that time. 7 am not
Informed as to what answer Great Bri-
tain has given to the request of the
United States for arbitration, but It Is
understood that she will arbitrate a
part. but will not arbitrate as to certain
territory which she claims Is unQues-
tionably hers But why should she
hesitate TO arbitra+o if her title Is un-
questionable. Congress will ask for all
the correspondence on the subject. and
we Will be able to tell what steps are
necessary. That Congress will act de-
cisively is beyond the slightest question
for The American people have already
reached a conclusion on this subject
It should be submitted to an impartial
foreign commission-say one commits
sioner from Germany one from France
and one from Mexico. Certainly one
republic should be represented"
Col Livingston was again asked what
would be the ultimate result if Great
Britain rejected all arbitration and
commissions.
Then" said he, "the United States
will protect the interests of its citizens
In Venezuela. With the granting Of this
American concession there is a definite
something which it is the duty of this
Government to protect, and I have nc
doubt that the responsibility will be as
sumed by the executive branch in Con-
gress with every requisite to secure q
respectful enforcement of the attitude
of the United States"