The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-26
HIS ADVICE NOT GOOD
The COlonists of British Guiana
Rebuke Chamberlain.
TO BUY MAXIM GUN.
They Tell the Minister He Doesn'e
Know What He Is Talking About,
and Laugh Mt Him.

Iaiu secrsfarv of state for the colonies
in the British cabinet. 10 Sir Charles Lees
governor general OF British Guiana, con-
corning the strengthening of the frohller'
the increase 81 police and the purchase
OF Maxim guns for the British Guiana ter
ritory. The state department was put IN
possession Of this information on ednes-
day last I'm an official communication from
a high member of the diplomatic corps
who regarded the subject as OF such I'M
portance that Secretary Olney should De
in possession Of the facts.
Chamberiain's warlike Letters.
when the high council opened its ses-
sion two letters from the British foreign
Office. signed by Minister Chamberlain,
were read. The government secretary also
announced that there was an important
telegram referring TO the purchase OF
Maxim guns which would not be read unth
the council went into secret session ar.
Chamberlain's letter referring to the arm
ing OF the frontier and the building or
military road, is as follows:
September I, 1851 have the honor TO
inform you that my attention has been
directed to the serious position in whlch
the colony of British Guiana finds itself
at the present time" After reciting the
depressed condition of the gold region, Mr..
Chamberlain continues: In its gold BRIT
ish Guiana appears to possess considera-
bic source OF wealth, so IL may be expect
ed that an increasing revenue can be
drawn If measures are taken TO open up
the country and render the gold-bearing
region more accessible to miners than 1t
has hitherto been. TO this end one of the
first and most important questions is the
construction of the proposed road con-
reeting the upper reaches of the Barina
and Barana rivers, thence 10 be carried TO
the Cuyuni at the mouth Of the Acrabisci
creek and onward, If necessary, to the
junction of the Uruan and Cuyuni rivers.
The road. as have said. is necessary for
the development of the northwestern dis
trict. which, so far, is the district prom
Using the best results as gold field. But
IL is also of Importance from an admins
trative and military point OF view. as it
will materially shorten the distance-t to the
interior of British Guiana and will al the
same time put It in the power of the gov
eminent TO keep more closely in touch
with the frontier and to repel any attempt
ed aggression on the part of Venezuela.
The road will not, / understand. involve
a large expenditure. and / consider that
no time should be lost in undertaking it's
connecntion. accordingly telegraphed you
on the Cd inst, requesting you to bring
the matter before the high council and to
obtain it's sanction to the road being pro-
coded with Immediately"
Mr.. Chamberlain then requests informa-
ton as to whether capitalists can be
found who will take a concession for the
gold fields. covering the same territory
as the Venezuelan concession to United
States syndicate. He adds that inquiries
are now being made in London as 10 the
possibility of inducing capitalists there to
take the concession from Great Britain.
His letter proceeds:
''In view of a possible early and rapid
expansion OF the gold industry, it will be
necessary to provide adequately for the
fatx z1zI 49,
that order may be maintained and the
borders Of the colony secured against in
cursion. The existing police force will
need to be strengthened for this purpose,
and TO what extent that may be necessary
l shall be glad to learn your opinion, after
a full consideration of the subject
att will probably become necessary TO
erect barracks at Uruan and at one or
two other points, IL the force on the border
is materially increased. I have TO request
that you will give your immediate atten-
ton TO the various points mentioned in
this dispatch, and. indeed, 10 the whole
subject in all its bearings. and that you
will furnish me full statement of your
views by the earliest opportunity. / am,
etc. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN"
The Maxim Gun Proposition.
After reading the foregoing letter. the
government secretary offered the follow
ing resolution:
"Be II resolved. That this court sane
items the following expenditure being
charged against the revenue for the cur
rent year: Purchase OF one Maxim gun
and ammunition. 81 $50: two additional sub
inspectors of police. s72o: uniforms. arms
and accouterments, SASS; total. 81 s35''
The government secretary offered a sec
ond resolution appropriating $iO1o for a
barracks at Crlan. the point where the
recent trouble in Venezuela occurred. In
a speech supporting the resolution the
government secretary said with regard 10
the purchase OF the Maxim gun that IL
was the direct wish of the secretary OF
state. Mr.. Chamberlain. The government
had already voted a certain sum for the
purchase Of guns. Those guns. two in
number. would be mounted on field ,arri-
ages and he thought he would be justified
in saying that this one would not be
placed on a field carriage. but would Re
sent direct TO the frontier There was al
ready an armed force which il was de-
sired 10 improve. The men there had
weapons of defense and offense. but thew
would now have weapon OF different
sort
The government secretary said he ro-
gardcd Mr.. Chamherlain's dispatch 50 the
most important communica ton the colony
or British Guiana had received in recent
years. The dispatch, he said, showed that
those who were advising her ma iesty in
regard 20 the afalFs OF British Guian
were not asleep 10 its interests. and that
they were not DESTROYS OF letting things
remain as they were. II was an imperial
policy that was before them. These wore
big words. he said, 10 use in the matter Of
an expenditure OF so small an amount as
g 80 for Maxim gun. ammunition efc
bat " was not the consideration Of that
small sum, but the consideration Of the
general policy OF her mafestv's govern
ment, which was now being put before the
court IN black and white. X had not been
easy for him TO approach the subject
There were reasons which he thought tn.
honorable members would understand
without his going into them. and they
would show why be had skirted what
might be read between the lines or MS
motion, and why he had rot gone into fur
Their details on these points he anpeale1
70 the members 20 support the resolutions
for the better arming of the frontier.
The Council Turns Down Chamberlain.
K was soon evident however. that the
members Of the high council aid not ar
prove NJ. Ch1mberia.n's proposition for
guns and arms Mr. Duncan said they
we're asked 70 vote money sor t1e pur-
chase OF a Maxim gun 10 place on the
frontier. which ( look them SIX We Ks
- reach. Tae FIRST ching they might he4r
ABOUT that gun vas tAat * was beng ex-
hi7lted as a curiosity AZ Bolivar. laugh
tcr-) Unta they mad easy and RAPID corn
municatlon, he y oald cal :; foolish 70 place
Maxim guns si3ng tae frontier When
roads we're oUtl. u would % tsrne enough
70 place guns on the frontier They had
been told &c was the direct wtsh % the ses-
rotary o. state for foreign ArAtrs. Afr.
Cean eerlaln. bag. while taat gentleman