Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-03
DRIFTING TO WAR.
Tendency of the Venezuelan
Territorial Question,
UNLEss JOHN BULL CLIMBS DOWN.

Uncle Sam Given . Direct Interest in the
Dimcuify with . Venezuelan Concession
to an American Citizen Right in the
Heart of the Disputed Real Estate-No
Mexico Guatemala War Secretary
Gresham Nails q False Report.
WASHINGTON. April 3.-There is great
deal moro in the news from Faribault,
Alinn-, OF the grant Of a concession by
Venezuela ut the mouth of the Orinoco
than Is indicated in the dispatch, which
records the granting to an American citi-
zen OF large tract OF land and the right
to cut valuable timber, dig for minerals,
and work the asphalt beds. This conces-
sion may become more or less famous in
the history of the diplomacy Of the United
States and Great Britain. The concession
Is well calculated to bring to an acute
stage the most troublesome diplomatic
question before the state department, and
one which has caused the administration
more real concern than the Alliance af-
fair, the late Guatemalan- Mexican dis
pute, or any other international episode
In the Heart OF Disputed Territory.
The concession is in the heart of the ter
ritOry long in dispute between Venezuela
and Great Britain. Ambassador Bayard
for some time has vainly striven, in ac-
cordance with n resolution recently
adopted by congress. to persuade Great
Britain to submit the whole dispute to ar
bitration, Great Britain being willng z
only TO arbitrate beyond what is known
as the Schomber line. There have been
intimations that the administration, in
the event Of a physical conflict over the
disputed lands, might deem 1t necessary
in the enforcement of the Monroe Doc
trine to follow up the moral aid it has
rendered Venezuela with more substau-
tial and potent assistance.
Gives Uncle sam q Direct Interest.
The fact that citizens of the United
States now, by this concession, are
thrust, SO to speak, between Great
Britain and the United States. consider
ably increases the measure of this govern
ment's responsibility. Senor Andradc,
the Venezuelan minister at Washington,
says that he has no ofticial confirmation
of the grant but admits that he does not
doubt its correctness, rs it Is line with re-
ports that such concessions would be
made. The land included in the con-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela The
Orinoco is the great commercial artery of
South America running far inland
through Venezuela, Brazil and other
countries.
Involves Control Of Great Commerce.
Whoever controls the mouth of tine
river, Minister Andrade says, will control
this great commerce. Great Britain has
taken possession of Punta Barina, at the
mouth, which is to the Orinoco what Gil
braltar is to the Mediterranean. She has
also equipped n naval station on Trinidad
island, just off the mouth. Her claims
embrace both banks of the stream at the
mouth 1t Is part of this important
strategic territory that Venezuela now
grants to United States citizens. The
concession near Trinidad island is be.
licved to be the island of Patos 1t is
very near to the British naval station,
and particularly rich in asphalt.
venexnela Makes = sharp Move.
The present concession is the most en-
phatic declaration of ownership Venc-
zuela has made since 1881 In that year a
concession was made to Messrs. Fitzger-
aid and Turnbull, citizens of the United
States, of part of this Orinoco territory
1t was about to be operated by United
States company. known as the Manoa
company, when Great Britain entered
such an empha,i C protest that Venezuela
cancelled the concession. Since then the
conflict between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela has been waged through diplomatic
channels; now Nenezuela reasserts her
rights and turns them over to United
States citizens.
Three Interesting Questions.
The interesting questions thus arise:
"What steps will now be taken by Great
Britain to assert her claims?" and .'Will
il endeavor to prevent the United States
syndicate operating its concessions?'
Some people think there is another more
important one, and that is: What will
Uncle Sam do about the matter?'