The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-27

eminent. however, considering ,hat these
settlements were so near uO~ifl ,ns vNirh
they had not wished TO claim. e0nsi loring
also the diiliculty Of controlling the iaovc-
ncnts OF mining populations overlooked
'l.s breach OF the agreement
Inc Governor OF the colony was in
l>'t sent 10 caracas 90 negotiate for
settlement or the boundary but Doe found
inc Nerezueian State i'm so disturbed a
condition that 10 was impossible 10 COM
m0nce negotiations. and eventually he
came away without having cffc, any
thing.
For the next nineteen years. as stated
ly Mr. oiney. the civil connections in
Venezuela prevented ans RESUMPTION Of
negotiations
ln 1876 10 was reported that Inc Vene-
zuelan Government hai. for the second
Time broken "fhe agreement OF 1851
hy granting licenses 10 trade and cut
wood iu barIma and eastward. Later in
me same year that Government once
more made an overture for the settlement
ar the boundary Various delays inter
posed before aegotiati0ns actually COM
menccd. and f. was not tli 1879 that
Senior Roiaz began them with renewal
OF the claim 10 the Essequibo as the
eastern boundary OF Venezuelan Guiana.
At the same time Doe stated that hls
Government wished 'tO obtain. by meIhs
oi treaty, deiinitive settlement OF the
question ana was disposed 20 proceed
between the two Guianas in a spirit of
Cancellation and true friendship toward
her Maiesiv's Government"
Tn reply 90 this communication a note
was addressed 90 Senior Roiaz on the
10th of January lNsl reminding hiy
that The boundary which her Naiesty's
Government claimed, as matter OF strict
risht on grounds of conquest and cOn-
ces.ion oy treaty commenced ar point
az the mouth or the Dlinoco, we fWaru
of Point Barma. that IL proceeded thence
in southerly direction % the lWateca
Mountains. the line of which IL followed
TO the northwest, passing from thence
hy the high land OF Santa Maria just
south of the town OF Iudta until 10 struck
"a range Of hills on the eastern bank Of
the Car0ni river. following these south
ward until II struck me great backbone
OF the Guiana district the Barima Noun
tains of British Guiana. and thence south
ward 10 the Pacnraima Mountains ON
the other hand. the claim which had
been put forward on behalf of Venezuela
by General GuZman Bauco In his message
10 the National Congress of the ZDth OF
February. 1871, would involve the surrcu-
der OF "a province now inhabited hy fU.-
$50 British subject. and which haa been
IN the UNINTERRUPTED possession Of Hol-
land and Of Great Britain successfully for
two centuries.
The difference between these two claims
being So great ID was pointed out TO
Selor Roiaz that IN order 90 arrive at "a
satisfactory arrangement, t4cn part.
must be prepared 10 make very consider
able concessions TO Che other, ana DE Is d-
assured that. although the claim OF Nene-
zuela 10 the Essequlbo river boundary
could not, under any circumstances nr
eutertdine ]. yet that her Majesty Gov
eminent We're anxious TO meet me Nenr-
zuelan Government I'm spirit OF concliia-
ton and would be willing. in the event
OF a renewal OF negotiations Tor lNe
general settlement Of boundaries, 10 Walte
"a portions OF what they considered 10 nf
their strict rights IF Venezuela we.
really disposed 20 make coiiesDlhul'-
concessions on her part.
The Venezuelan Minister replied in tcn-
ruary ISL. by proposing lire WnicH
commenced on the coast niue 49,. iJ ''
north OF the MOr1co river, ana ioiioWt,
certain parallels Ind meridians lnl5uN.
hearing "A general resemhian 20 TO the pro-
posal made by Lord Aberdeen m loif
Senior ROiaz' proposal was referred 20
tho Northumberland and Attorney
General of British Guiana. VINO were men
in England. and they presented an cab
crate report showing that M tne thifiy
five years which had elapsed since I-oid
Aherdecn's proposed concession MA liNN7
and others had settled IN the territory
under the beiief'that they would ENJOY
rhe benefits of British rule. and that %
was impossible 20 assent 70 any a"tN
concessions as Senior ROIaz' line would
involve. They. however proposed am al
formative line. which involved cOnsidera-
BILE reductions OF that laid down ny .f
Il. SChomburek.
Tnis boundary was proposed 20 The
Vile i'm September. 1881, but no answer
was ever returned by that Government
60 the proposal
While. however. the Venezuelan Minis
ter constantly stated that the matter
was under active consideration. % was
found that in the same year a conces-
sion had been given by his Government
10 General Pulgar which included "a
large portion Of the territory in dispute
This was the third breach by Venezuela
OF the agreement or l,al-
Early in 1851 news arrived Of fourth
breach by Venezuela OF the agreement OF
ls50 through two different grants, which
covered the whole Of the territory IN dis
pute. and as this was followed 10y actual
attempts 10 settle on the disputed terri
tory the British Government could no
longer remain inactive.
Warning was therefore given 20 the
Venezuelan Government and 10 the con-
ceseicnnaircs. and British magistrate
was sent into the threatened district 10
assert the British rights.
Meanwhile the negotiations for a set
Element Of the boundary had continued,
but the only replies that could be OBJ
tanned from Senior Guzman BlancO, the
Venezuelan Minister were proposals for
Arbitration in different forms all OF
which her Majesty's Government were
compeilei TO decline as involving sub
mission to the arbitrator OF the claim adj
vanced by Venezuela IN lsH TO all terri
tory up To the left bank of the EsscquibO.
As taeprosross OF settlement by British
subjects Nmade q decision OF some kind
absolutely necessary. and as the Nene-
zuelan Government refused to come 10
any reasonable arrangement, her Ma les
tvs Government decided not 10 repsat
the Offer OF concessions. which had not
BEEN reciprocated. but 70 assert their I'M
doubted right 10 the territory within the
Schomburgk line. while SIN consenting
10 hold open for further negotiation. and
even for arbitration. the unsettled lands
between that line and what they consid-
cred 70 be the rightful boundary. IS