The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-19


ures made in New York today on the best
OF authority. The government of Ven
ezuela has provided itself with modern
armament. and among other supplies has
ordered ten improved Maxim guns from
the British firm which manufactures
them. The order was not placed through
any firm. and the English house. Il is
supposed. does not know the destination
OF the guns.
At the same time the syndicate Of
United States capitalists which has So
cured concessions on the Venezuelan gold
lands claimed hy Great Britain : prepar-
ing to send a large force Of prospectors,
miners and workmen into the field. Will
lam " Stafford. counsel for the Orinoco
Company. the American syndicate. made
plain today the position assumed by the
Orinoco Company. The company ne
said. proposes To work its concessions
without delay II will send prospectors
along the line of the Imataca mountains.
whose foothills are supposed to be rich
with gold. That territory is, Of course.
in the company's concessions, and has al
ways been marked so on the map. But.
now that there is a prospect Of gold there,
Great Britain claims IT. Arrangements
are being made to send our men there TO
develop the company's concessions. With
out any intent TO start a controversy, but
10 assert the company S rights Beside
the concession awaiting development
Great Britain refers 70 the Schomburgk
line. but the fact is that she has gone be-
yond that. This line is purely imaginary.
Sir Robert Schomburgk visited Venezuela
in 1870. and, starting at Point karoma,
merely drew line southwark on the map.
The Venezuelan government has conciu-
sive evidence that he made no survey In
1850 Great Britain asserted that il had no
intention To occupy or usurp the disputed
territory. So matters went until 1850. In
that year rich gold fields, now yielding
S4,0o0. 600 a year, were discovered west or
the Schomburgk line, between the Guiana
and Paraman rivers. They are known as
the Baroma gold fields, and are fifty or
sixty miles west Of the Schomburgk line.
Nevertheless Great Britain promptly
stepped in and claimed that territory, and
so she has gone on since. claiming land
wherever gold has been discovered. The
orinoco Company claims those gold fields
as hsing In its concession, and proposes
TO stand up for its perfectly clear title 10
them"
London. oct. fs.-The St James Gazette
this afternoon made highly important AMI
sensational statements regarding Nenezue-
la, which seem 20 show that the dispute
between The republic ard Great Britain
has assumed a grave aspect. II says tAat
since Rt Hon Joseph Chamberlain re-
sumed Office as secretary of state for the
colonies he has paid close personal atteu-
ton TO the question Of relations between
Great Britain and Venezuela, and has
taken the initiatory in directing IN part
the administration of affairs in the Brit
ish colony OF Guiana. adjoining Venezuela.
The Gazette says:
I'VE are now enabled to give the tenor
OF a remarka bic dispatch IN which is out
lined the imperial policy toward the colo
mes. The document is of much import
aace, inasmuch as II was followed by ca
hled instructions from Mr.. Chamberlain
"a the governor OF British Guiana, Sir
Charles Cameron Lees, X. 9. VI. c.. 10 OBJ
tain without delay vote for the provision
OF the two Maxim guns one OF which is 10
be stationed at Uruan or elsewhere along
the frontier where Nenezuelans may at
tempt 10 cross. The mere fact that Cham
berlain has cabled instruction for defense
OF the frontier in this manner is positive
proof that the imperial government WI
not tolerate repetition Of the Uruan IN
ciGent and intends 10 Hold the frontier with
In Schomburgk line by force II necessary.
Chamberlain advocates especially the fos-
tering OF god mining. and urges the cut
ting OF a road srom the upper Bav.ma RIVER
70 Guiana pointing out its importance
from a military point Of view. as u YOU'D
enable the government 70 keep more close
" TN touch with the frontier and thwart
attempts at Venezuelan aggression. adding
that in view OF possible early and rapid
expansion Of gold mining 1t will he neces-
sarv 70 provide adequat ely for protection
of the northwest district. and commend
ing increase of the number 0f military
and police as vel as tie erection of bar
racks on the frontier"
Sir Charles Cameron z Lees. governor
Of British Guiana, has been summoned 70
London to confer with Right Hon. Joseph
Chamberlain secretary Of state for the
colonies. UPON Venezuelan affairs.
Washington city, Oct. Is.-At the Brit
ish embassy there was much interest
evinced IN the action of Minister Chamber
lain on the Venezuelan boundary question.
as announces by the 81. James Gazette.
The embassy was without Official advices.
however. and it was thought That any steps
On this ami other South and Central Amer
ieRn questions would be taken in Ioraeu.
executed =; Tho point affected. and not
communicated 20 tho British Diplomatic
representative fI the United States u
has been evident ~ diplomats hsre f'r
some time that the British foreign Office
views az thesc ouestso1s as issues between
Great Britain and the parties iwn@3iats.y
involved and does not recognize the
United states as a factor iu the questions
In Diplomatic circles the person aitty of
Mr. chan, ber.siU IS being z sc1Fse1 .1 con-
uecti3n with hts order Nhcn he was n
Washington city a. member 1t tre iiz 1-
cries COMMISSION al. - AtAt t-itI'tH tEf-
extremely cordial ~ the United States
ard he used the expression. "6.ood ts
thicker than water. as applying - fhe
hlood relations between EuEashuer Ard
American A. that time ue met Mss
Fns5raft daughter - the secretary -
wa IN Mr. Cleveland first cabinet and
married he~ Taus IN word and action h@
was REGARDED as tvp5sytag the h-1a1est
P-aftsa sentiment toward tse Tuts1 states
For this reason there IS surprise that -
should D. the first - urge Maxim guns f1r
the VsnezIe.an boundary.
These intimately acquainted With NJ
Chauberlaln say that .is letter u 81
Charles Lees = Indicative q the deter
mined attitude te wiI adept n al q'lez-
tons 81 colonial pol3cy. Among leading
atn!9-uat~ it IS considered as settled taat
me British government w.ll Insist that any
arbitration w.-. uct nader any cire3f1-
s-arcss embrace the tract or tse British
Guiana xs,ss - the Seh7ru h4rgk line. TIE
Tr~1lau incident mentioned "a the cables
has been pending for 1lont1s- The ch3ef
% l3ltce Of BRITISH Guiana and several -
as Officers were arrested hy venezuelan
s,lsiers while oa the disputed border tract
TIE British osicla1s We-e fen IN uun5eT.
and raea no ssstauce - 5einE
taken 70 Venezuelan town ard
he'll a. pfEsaners-. Thev were qaies-
~ released. however ~ fa@ fhnG - pTa-
tests. But the British S5-As - p9laes