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

The following Is an extract from the
note of Lord Salisbury 10 Secretary cl-
ncy, of November %, 1890. IN answer 10
Olneys note or July 20, 1880, giving Eng
lands claims to the territory in dispute.
Il is true, as stated by Sir. Clney that
i'm the Venezuelan Constitution or lNln ar
tcle 3. lays down that cine territory OF
Venezuela comprises all that which pre-
Vi0usly To the political changes of i'ip
was cenominated the Capiaincy-Gchelai
of Venezuela" Similar declarations had
been made ia the fun damental laws pro-
mulgated In 1919 and 1871
/ need not I ONT out that declaration
Of this kind made by newly set-coh-
stituted State can nave no valid Iorce
as against international arrangements
previously concluded boy the nation from
which il has separated itself.
But the present difficulty would never
have arisen n the Government OF Nehe-
zuela had been content 10 claim Only
those territories which could be proved
or even reasonably asserted 10 have been
practically iu the possession ana unucf
the effective jurisdiction of the Captain
cy-Generai Of Venezuela.
There is no authoritative statement ny
the Spanish Government of those terri
tories for q decree which the Venezuelan
Government allege TO have been issued
by the King of Spain IN los, describing
the Province OF Guiana as bordeied on
the south by the Amazon ana on the
east by the Atlantic, certainly can not
be- REGARDED las such. if absolutely ig-
nOres the Dutch settlements which not
only existed in fact, but had been formally
recognized by the treaty Of Munster ol
valid, Tanrer TO Venezuela the Whole
Of tne British, Dutch and french
Guianas ana an enormous tract OF teiIl-
tory belonging 10 Brazil.
But of the territories claimed ana
actually occupied by the Dutch. which
were those acquired from them by Great
Britain. there exist the most authcnilc
declarations. In 1853 and again IN l'',
the States General Of Holland addressed
formal circumstances TO the court OF
Madrid against the inCursiOns OF the
Spanards into their posts and settlements
in 1he basin of the Guy uni. ia these re-
mOnstrauces they distinctly claimed an
the branches Of the EssequihO river, ana
especially the Cuyuni river. as lying with
i'm Dutch territory. They demanded I'M
mediate reDaratiOn for the proceedings
of the Spaniards and reinstatement OF
the posts SAID TO have been injured 10y
them, and suggested that proper delih-
cation between the colony OF EsseQuluo
and the Rio Oriroco should be lald down
by authority.
TO this claim the Spanish Government
never attempted 10 make any reply. But
il is evident from the archieves when
are preserved IN Spain and TO which, by
the courtesy of the Spanish Government,
reference has been made, that the councll
the means of Iebuttiug II, and that
neither they nor the Governor or tumant
were prepared seriously TO MAINTAIN the
claim. which were suggested IN Reports
from his subordinate oncer the com
manlant of Guiana. Ihcse reports were
characterized by the Spanish ministers as
insufficient; and unsatisfactory, as pro-
Tossing TO show the Province OF Guiana
under too favorable a light, ana hnally
bv the Council OF State as appearing
l.s inf al
probable" They form. however, with a
map. which accompanied them. the evil
denco on which the Venezuelan Govern
ment appear most 10 rely, though IL
may be observed tina, among other docu-
ments which have from time 10 une
been produced OF referred 10 by them IN
the course OF the discussions Is Dull
of Pope Alexander VI, IN 1893, which u
IL IS to be considered as having anu
present validity. would take from tne
Government of the United states an title
10 Jurisdiction on the continent OF Nofih
America.
The fundamental principle underlying
the Ncnt zuclan argument, Is ln TACT,
that inaSmuch as Spain was originally
entitled of right 10 the whole OF Inc
American continent, any territory, on that
continent which she can not ne SHOWN
ia have acknowledged I'm positive ana
specific terms TO have passed 10 anotheI
power. can only have been acquired by
wrongful usurpation. and If situated 10
the north of the Amazon and west or
the Atlantic must necessarily pelohS 10
Venezuela as her self-constituted IN
heritor In those regions. Ii may reason
ably be asked whether Mr.. Olney would
consent TO refer 10 the arbitration on
another power pretensions raised by the
Government OF Mexico on such a ioun-
dation 10 large tracts CT territory whicn
had long been comprised in the Fedora
ton.
Tno circumstances connected with the
marking Of what Is called the Schom-
burgk" line are as follows.
In 1885 a grant was made by the British
Gov eminent for the exploration OF the.
interior Of the British colony. and MI.
was employed on this service on his
return to the capital OF the colony IN
Iulv 1870 called the attention OF the
Government TO the necessity Tor an early
demarcation of its boundaries. lie was
In consequence appointed in November.
iNi0 special commissioner FOR provisional
" surveying and deiimitinE the noun-
daries OF British Guiana, and notice 81
the appointment was given 10 the toNern-
rncnts concerned. including that oil Nene-
zuela.
The intention Of her Majestys Govern
ment al that time was. when the work
Of the commissioner had been completed,
to communicate TO the other Governments
their views as 10 the true boundary or
the British colony. and then 10 settle
any details 10 which those governments
might take objection.
N il important 10 notice that Sir r.
Schomhurgk dii not discover or invent
any new boundaries. lie took particular
care 10 for,ify himself with the history
OF the case. He had fm.her. from ac-
tual exploration and information obtained
from the Indians. and from the evidence
OF local remains, AZ AZ Barima, and
local traditions. as on the Cuyuni, fixed
the limits of the Dutch possessions. and
the zone from which all trade OF Spanish
influence was absent. On such data he
AZ tbs ysrx outset Of his mission hs