The record-union., 1895-04-03
MAY CAUSE TROUBLE.
Concession to Americans by the
Venezuelan Government.
COMPLICATIONS WITH ENGLAND
LIKELY TO RESULT.
Republicans Score an Almost Com
plete Victory in the MunfcipaI
Election at Chicago-CoId Wave in
Tennessee - Probability that the
Missouri Legislature VIII be Called
Together in Extra Session.
Special to the REcoRD-UNrox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIOv.
FARIBAULT (Minn.), April 2.-Donald
Giant, a wealthy contractor of this city,
w. Ii. Fisher, late Manager of the Du-
luth and Winnipeg Railroad, and J. A.
Bowman, Grand Rapids (Minn.)
banker, have just returned from Vene-
zuela, where they obtained a concession
OF land at the mouth OF the Orinoco, run
ming 125 miles south and from fifteen to
fifty miles east and west. It is rich in
minerals, mahogony, rosewood and dye
woods They also have the right to
mine asphalt on a small island near Trim
idad. The syndicate will invest good
deal of capital in working the conces-
sions, and MIR. Fisher is to be the
Manager.
NAY BRING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COM
PLICATIONS.
WASHINGTON, April q There is a
great deal more in the news from Fari-
bault OF the grant of a concession by
Venezuela at the mouth Of the Orinoco
than Is indicated in the dispatch. This
concession may become more or less
famous in the history of the diplomacy
OF the United States and Great Britain.
The couCess is well calculated to bring to
an acute stage the most troublesome
diplomatic questions before the State
Department, and one which. as eXclus-
lively stated heretofore in Associated Press
dispatches, has caused the Administra-
ton more real concern than the AlIianca
affair, the late Guatemalan-M Mexican dis
pule and other international disputes.
The concession Is in the heart Of the
territory long in dispute between Ven
ezuela and Great Britain. and Em bassador
Bayard for some time has vainly striven,
in accordance with resolution recently
adopted by Congress, To persuade Great
Britain to submit the whole dispute to
arbitration, Great Britain being willing
only TO arbitrate beyond what is known
as the SchOmberg line. There have been
intimations that the Administration, in
the event Of physical conflict over the
disputed lands, might deem it necessary
in the enforcement of the Monroe doc
trine to follow up the moral aid it has
rendered to Venezuela with more SUBJ
Stantial assistance.
The fact that citizens of the United
States now by this concession are thrust,
SO to speak, between Great Britain and
the United states, considerably increase
the measure of this Governments re-
spOnsl Dility.
Senor Andreade, the Venezuelan Min
lister at Washington, says he has no Off
clal confirmation of the grant, but admits
that he does not dOuOC its correctness, as
it is in line with reports that such con-
cessions would be made.
The land included III the concession is
the vital point OF conflict betw Great
Britain and Venezuela. The Orinoco is the
great commercial center of South Ameri-
ca, running far inland through Nene-
zuela, Brazil and other countries. Who-
ever controls the mouth OF the river will
control this great commerce. Great Brit
ain has taken possession of Punta Ba-
rima, the mouth of which is to the
Orinoco what the island of Gibraltar is to
the Mediterranean. She has also equipped
a naval station on Trinidad Island, lust
off the mouth. Her claims mbrace Doth
banks OF the stream at the mouth. 1t is
part of this important strategic territory
that Venezuela now grants TO the United
States citizens. The concession is near
Trinidad Island. 1t is very near 10 the
British naval station, and particularly
rich in asphalt.
The present concession is the most en-
phatlc declaration OF ownership Nene-
Zuela has made since 1854. In that year a
concession was made to Messrs FitZger-
aid and IurnbuIl. citizens of the United
States, Of part of this Orinoco territory.
1t was about to be operated by United
States commission as the ManOa Com
pany when Great Britain entered such an
emphatic protest that Venezuela cancelled
| the concession. Since the conflict be-
| tween Great Britain and Venezuela has
waged through diplomatic channels,
Venezuela reasserts her rights and turns
them over to nited States citizens
The interesting question thus arises.
What steps will now be taken to assert
her claims, and will she endeayor TO pre-
vent the United States syndicate Oper-
atlng It's cOncessionsY'