Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-10-24
The Venezuelan war clond.

imbroglio, consequent upon England's
determination TO resort to the use of
arms IN disputing possession Of terri
tory claimed by both governments,
win renew public interest in the
matter Venezuela will probably
fight for her rights, and it would not
be surprising if some OF the South
American republics gave her substan-
tial aid in repelling the monarchical
aggressor. There ought to be firm
adherence to the Monroe doctrine
among the republics of the South
American continent.
For the information of those who
have not followed the course Of the
dispute, or informed themselves as to
its origin, the following statement of
the situation by William l.. Seruges.
late United States minister to Vene-
zuela, will be Of interest:
1t is very well known that the terri
tory originally in dispute is the
narrow strip between the Essequibo
and the Morocco rivers. England's
contention was that this territory was
owned and partially occupied by
Holland in 1914, when that country
ceeded to Great Britain. the settle
ments of Demerara, Berbice and
Essequibo. Venezuela denied this
and contended, as she still contends,
that the Dutch possessions and occu-
pancy extended only to the east banks
of the Essequibo; that that river was
the recognized boundry line between
Holland and Spain in 1910, when by
her act of independence, Venezuela
became the legal successor in title OF
Spain; and hence that the Essequibo
is the present rightful boundry be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana
Ii is very true that in 1910 England
commissioned one Sir Robert Schom-
burgk to make survey of the dis
puted territory and that he marked
out the eapricious divisional line
which still bears his name But it is
equally true that this was done with
out the knowledge or concurrence of
Venezuela. And it is quite as notori-
Gus that both before and after the
survey. England herself, more than
once. and in more forms than one.
conceded that the vast additional
area included in British Guiana by
the Schomburgk line was rightfullv
within the domain and jurisdiction of
Venezuela More than this only
about eighteen months after the
Sehomburgk line had been run. the
British Premier, Lord Aberdeen, in
response 10 the remonstrances of the
Venezuelan government. distinctly
disclaimed il. and ordered it obliter-
ated by the Demerara colonial authori-
ties In addition to this, his lurdship
speaking in behalf of his government.
repeatedly assured the Venezuelan
minister in London, DR.. Fortivue.
that Great Britain had no thought of
either claiming or attempting to oc-
cupy Point Barima or the mouth OF
the Amacura river or any of the es-
tuaries of the Orinoco or even any
portion of the coast west of the Moro
co.
In the course OF negotiations which
followed these avowals. Lord Aber-
deem proposed a conventional bound
airy line beginning near the mouth of
the Morocco As this would have
practically coded to England nearly
or quite all the territory in dispute.
it was rejected by Venezuela, which
proposed reference of the whole
question TO friendly arbitration This
in turn, was rejected by the British
cabinet, and the final outcome of the
negotiations was the diplomatic agree
ment in 1850, whereby neither of the
parties was to occupy "any OF the
unoccupied territory in dispute" un-
til the question of boundary should
be finally settled OF course. this re-
stored the status quo of 1886 10: aud
by necessary influence the "unoccu-
pied territory in dispute" was limited
to the narrow strip between the Es-
sequibo and Morocco rivers This
was the sense in which Venezuela
understood the agreement, and there
is not wanting good evidence in sup
port of the belief that Lord Aberdeen
likewise SO understood il.
The discovery of gold in the dis
puted territory was followed hy the
| granting Of concessions hv the Vene-
ssNNA& ENA1A NlutHt IL iiiHAu2 ~ ANl~
| Gates. Contention as 70 whether
/ these concessions were within the
disputed territory brought on the old
| difficulty as to the boundary Nene-
/ zuela is anxious to have the difficulty
settled hy arbitration but England is
unwilling 10 participate 10 settle
ment by that means Evening Wis
| Consin.
! Mr. J X Fowler. secretary and
treasurer IL the Corinne Mill. Canal
aud stock Co. of Corinne. Utah. in
| speaking of Chamberlaiu's Cough
Remedy says; Il consider il the hest
in the market have used manl
kinds but find Chamberlain the uost
prompt and effeetual in giving relle
and now keep no other IN nay home
When troubled with cough or cold