The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-04-17
VENEZUELAN AFFAIRS.
Our Governments Interest in the
s@Ny Pending Controversy. ,
GRESHAM URGES ARBITRATION.
HOW the Advance of British Settlers in
Venezuela Were Followed by Similar Ad-
vances of British Colonial Administra-
tion, Regardless of boundary Lines.


Venezuela Were Followed by Similar Ad-
vances of British Colonial Administra-
tion, Regardless of boundary Lines.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-The only ref.
erences in the published correspondence of
tho state department for 1894 touching tho
Venezuelan boundary dispute are found
in two letters addressed by Secretary Of
State Gresham to United States Ambassa-
dor Bayard at London, one dated July 13
last and the other bearing date of Dec
last. The first begins AS follows:
During your incumbency Of the office
ofsccretary Of state you became acquainted
with long pending controversy between
Great Britain and Venezuela concerning
she boundary between that republic and
British Guiana.
posed in 1881, having been supported by
your predecessors, was in turn advocated
by you In u spirit of friendly regard for
che two nations involved. In the mean
timo successive advances OF British set
tlers In the region admittedly in dispute
wero followed by similar advances Of Brit
fish colonial administration, contesting
and supplanting Venezuelan claims to ex-
srctse authority therein.
Toward the end Of 1887 the British ter
ritorial claim, which had. as 1t would
seem, been silently increased by some 49,.
D00 square miles between 1886 and 1886,
look another comprehensive sweep west.
ward to embrace the rich mining district
bf the Yuruari as far as Guacipati; and
this called forth your instruction to Mr..
Phelps Of Feb. II, 1888, respecting the
widening pretenslons of British Guiana
10 possess territory over which Venezuelan
jurisdiction, had never heretofore been
disputed.
"Slnce then repeated efforts have been
made by Venezuela, as a directly interested
party, and by tho United States, as the i'm
partial friend Of both countries, to bring
about resumption of diplomatic rela-
lions, which had been suspended in conse-
auence of the dispute now under consider
Ation. The proposition to resume such re-
lations has, however, been intimately
bound up with the ultimate question of
arbitration. Until recently Venezuela has
insisted upon joining to the agreement to
Arbitrate a stipulation for the restoration
ef the status quo OF 1850 pending the pro-
posed arbitration. But 1t seems that this
condition is now abandoned On the other
hand, Great Britain has on several occa-
understanding touching arbitration, that
Venezuela shall definitely abandon all
claim to u large part of tho territory in
dispute and limit the eventual arbitration
sothat portion only to which Great Britain
has more recently laid claim"
Secretary Gresham goes on to give ut
length history Of the various attempts
that have been made by the United States
and by Venezuela herself to bring about a
settlement by arbitration of the dispute.
bringing it down to Oct. g. 1893, where it
now rests, when he says:
THE president Is inspired by a desire
for peaoeable and honorable adjustment
Sf the existing difficulties between an
American state and a powerful trans
Atlantic nation and would be glad to SEQ
the ro establishment of such diplomatic
relations between thom as would promote
shat end.
II oan discern but two equitable solu
ttons to the present controversy. One is the
srbitral determination Of the rights of the
Aisputants as u respective successor to the
historical rights of Holland and Spain
over tho region in question. The other is
10 create n new boundary line, in accord
ance with the dictates OF mutual expedi-
sncy and consideration. Tho two govern
mehts having SO lhf De"n unable TO agree
on a conventional line, tho consistent and
conspicuous advocacy by the United States
and England Of the principal OF arbitra-
Zion, and their recourse thereto in settle
ment Of important questions arising be-
tween them, make such mode of adjust
mont especially appropriate In the present
instance, and this government will gladly
DO what 1t can to further determination
In that sense"
In his letter OF last December Secretary
Gresham thus advises Mr.. Bayard
Il cannot believe her majestys govern
ment will maintain that the validity OF
thelr claim to territory long in dispute be-
bween the two countries shall be conceded
ns precedent to the arbitration of the
question whether Venezuela is entitled to
other territory which, until very recent
period, was never In doubt"