Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-26
BRITISH SECRETS
In Possession Of Uncle Same
State Department.
RECORD OF THE GUIANA COUNCIL.

Doo,s of she Governing BODY Of That
British Colony Regarding Chamberlain's
Maxim Gun Propositlou-A Turn.Dovn
fog Joseph-American Who Has Uniaue
View Of the venezuela Trouble.
WAsHNGToS, Oct. 26.-The state depart
pfent Is In possession of the full text of
tho dispatches sent by Joseph Chamber.
lain, secretary Of state for the colonies In
the British cabinet, to Sir Charles Lees,
governor general Of British Guiana. con.
corning the strengthening Of the frontier,
The increase Of police and the purchase Of
Maxim guns In the British Guiana terri.
tory. The department has been furnished
also with the detailed action Of the high
council Of British Guiana upon the recon-.
mcndations of Minister Chamberlain.
These proceedings give the full resolution
offered by the governor general for the
purchase Of Maxim gun and ammunition.
uniforms, arms and accoutrements. They
also make the surprising disclosure that
shc high council OF British Guiana, after
Its members had severely erraigncj Min
istcr. Chamberlain for his prccipitatc action
In recommending Maxim guns, defeated
the resolution for their purchase by vote
VI 10 to 5, thus rejecting the policy laid
down BY the British cabinet.
Letters Before the High Council.
The state department was put in DOS.
session Of this information in an official
communication from high member of
the diplomatic corps, who regarded the
subject as Of such Importance that Sccre.
tary Olncy should bc in possession Of the
facts. When the high council opened its
session TWO letters from the British for
eirn Office, signed by Minister Chamber.
lain, were read The government sccrc-
tary also announced that there was an
Important telegram referring to the pur-
chase o' Maxim guns, which would not be
fcad until the council went into secret
session. Chambcrlain's letter referring
To the arming Of the frontier and tho
building Of military road has been given
IN brio. In these dispatches.
An Imperial Policy BEFORE Them.
The government secretary said he re-
itnricd Chambcrlain's dispatch as the most
important communication the colony of
British Guiana had received in recent years.
The dispatch, he said, showed that those
wh" We're advising her majesty in regard TO
sAc affairs Of British Guiana were not
asleep to its interest, and that they were
not dcsirous OF letting things remain rs
they werc. IL YVES an imperial policy that
was before them. These were big words,
hc said, to use on the matter os the cx-
pcnditurc of so small an amount as E.. 81,
for Maxim guns, ammunition, etc, but it
was not the consideration of that small
sum, but the consideration of the general
policy of her majcsty's government which
was now being put before the council.
The Cautious scot Has the Floor.
1t was soon evident that the members of
the high council did not approve Cham.
bcrlain's proposition for guns and arms.
Duncan said they were asked to vote
money for the purchase of Maxim guns to
place on the frontier which 1t took them
stX.wccks to reach. The first thing they
might hear about that gun was that II
was being exhibited as n curiosity at
Bolivar. When roads were built it would
bc time enough to- place guns on the
frontier. Mckinuon said that the gov.
crnmcnt already had two Maxim guns
and instead of buying more those already
on hand should bc sent to the frontier
lie was glad to note the energy OF Mr.
Chamberlain, but the latter was acting
too hastily, and he thought less haste
would secure better results.
wcbbcr said he did not think the CUR
item was necessary. At present they had
five policemen facing fifty Venezuelan.
and they were living In nnity on cacf
side. Supposing they had row and they
killed ten Vcnczuclans, that would b,
open war. Where would they defend
themselves? Not in the wilderness o.
Uruan, but they would send for one o
her majcsty's cruisers to blockade tn,
mouth Of the Orinico or to seize the Gus
tom receipts Of La Guayara.
In the course Of his remarks Gilzean, an
other opponent Of the gun, said: "Oul
defense IL not the force Of arms; our dc
fcnsc is the prestige of the name of tn,
British nation hear. hcrcl, and the tall
Of any other defense Is mere rubbish.
After further debate the motion was pu
by the government secretary and dcfcates
yeas =. nays 10 The second resolution
appropriating $1,000 for barracks n
Cruan, was adopted unanimously. A
already stated the state department. ha
been put In possession Of the letters o
Chamberlain and the proceedings Of tn
council
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