The sun., 1896-03-11
VEN EZUELA'S CASE FILED.
DBLIVERED BY MIR. sCRUGGS TO
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.
The Republics Evidence Given In the Form
OF the Original Documents, Unaccops-
panied by Comment or Argument New
shed Light in the Uruan Incident.

ment of the Venezuelan case this morning from
ex-Minister Scruggs, counsel for the South
American republic, who presented copies Of the
volume which has engaged his efforts for the
last six months. and contains tho substance of
the Venezuelan intention. although considera-
ble supplementary evidence is expected from
Caracas. and will be submitted rs soon as II ar
rives. The volume. which contains 440 pages
and coorcd map is entitled, "Officinl History
of the Discussion Between Venezuela and Great
Britain on Their Guiana Boundaries" 1t is de-
voted exclusively to the exhibition OF official
correspondence. without word OF comment or
argument. and Is divided into twelve sections.
each covering q distinct phase Of the neeo,ia-
tions since 1899.
The preface of the book Is the official letter
Of the Palmerston Ministry of March ls, 1910.
already published. discredting the Schomburgk
line an intended boundary. followed by the
treaty of London of 1914. by which the Dutch
ceded to Great Britain the Cape Of Good
Hope and the establishments OF Demerara. Es-
sequibo. and Barbice." The parts,of the corre-
spondencc are:
!. Instructions from Secretary OF Foreign
Affairs Of ancient Colombia, OF which Venezu-
ella was n portion in 1922, to her Minister in
London. directing him to insist that colonists
who had crossed the Essequ,bo should submit
to Colombian laws retire to their former
possessions.
II. Request Of the British Minister, May &c,
1896, for Venezuela to establish lighthouse
ut Point Barma
III. Tho Aberdeen negotiations, 1s41.1s44.
". Disavowal OF England's 8 intention to claim
Venezuelan Guiana in 1850.
V. Effort to settle the dispute with Earl
Derby. 1876.
VI The first Salisbury and Granville ncgo-
tlations. lSSO-lsSl.
VII. Negotiations in 1888 1874 at Caracas.
VIII, Gen, Guzman Blanco's efforts Ia London
with Sir Julian Pauncefote and Earl Granville,
lss4-lss6, covering seventy-hve pages OF the
IX.-Negotiations at Caracas. 1886 1887, and
reports of Venezuelan Commission In disputed
\. and NJ Resumption of relations and nego-
tiatlons between Lord salisbury and DIR. Pulico,
1880. recnrdinE mixed Commission to arb-
trate west OF Schomburgk line.
XII.-THe Rosebery compromise, 1893.
Negotiation with the United States
from 1893 to the present time, ask ing interven-
tion. including all the correspondence rel eative
to the efforts of the Pope to secure England's
consent to arbitration In 1894.
More than 200 letters and official documents
are given in full in the book, arranged in chro-
nological sequence. Very few OF them have been
quoted pu blcly.
While no new facts Of n popular nature that
have not heen referred to in pub lished state
ments of Nenezueas side appear in the book.
il l. understood that the complete presentation
in extensu of all the documents makes it val
ali the British letters, which either were over
looked or intentionally omitted from the Eng
lsh Blue Book. are included rs well AS much
ther official correspondence IN which England
had no part or. of which the English Govern
ment was not informed.
ly with the view OF distracting attention from
the Venezuelan boundary dispute. that negotin-
bassador u M and the Venezuelan Minister at Wash.
inston to dispose of the truan incident. has
received again an unqualified denial from both
diplomats, although it Is conceded on all sides
that, at the instance OF Great Britain, II com
promise may be effected through amlable medi-
alton, which would remove any obstacle to the
resumption of relations as preliminary 10 the
arbitration OF the boundary dispute upon the
lines suggested by the United States: snch arbi-
Commission, although supplemental to its
The details of tho Uruan incident, which i.
insignificant compared with the boundary dis
pute, from which it. is considered inseparable
prominence owing TO the failure Of the Govern
ment there to make any official statement re-
aiding il. The intrinsic uniiuportance OF the
affair was made plain to-day through corre-
spondcnce not hitherto made public.
Baron Bodman. the German Charge d'Affaires
at Caracas. on Nov. 4. 1904. had an Interview
with the Venezuelan Ministt u OF Foreign Affairs
which is described in the following correspond
"IMPERIAL LEGATION OF GERMANY M
"NENEzuELA. CARACAS. Nov. II. 1894.
"MR. MINISTER: Last Thursday. by virtue Of
a teegraphic communication from my Govern
ment had the honor in my character OF being
charged with the protection OF British interests
in Venezuela. to present n claim. in the name
Of the royal Cabinet OF Great Britain. against a
violation of the frontier of British Guiana. per-
River. AT the same time EXPIRE sed the desire
OF the English Government that the officer who
commands the Venezuelan troops of the Cuyuni
River should receive orders TO ohbit his sol
diers from crossing the river, rs we'll as from
cutting trees on its right hank.
His Excellency had the Kindness to offer me
of Ministers. Wishing a solution Of the matter
satisfactory TO the parties interested, would be
very grateful to his Excellency II reply
given to me ns soon as possible BoDMAN"
Foreign rel Relations was '' ''''',''' VI
Your Honor will have already observed that
Known e M'I'h as the disputed boundary between the
republic OF Venezuela and the English colony OF
Demerara. Since England determined. not long
ago. 70 actually occupy the portion of territory
In dispute lin which the region of the Cuyuni
was not. however, at first comprised. to which
Venezuelan territory, the republic has protested
seriously rescryinE to herself the right to vim
When since inc then. moved by spirit Of c"ncilia.
tion. she earnestly submitted to the Government
E slr 80 OF ss
protests. which came to he the reiterated invo-
cation of the rights TINT in this contest evident
- So. on Feb 90 1887. June IS and Oct 20,
1883. Dec, i6 1850. sept. !. 800. Dec. 80. 1891.
say. every time that any measure from tho
colonial authorities appeared extending the
radius of the occupation. with manifest trans.
Venezuela has opposed with the voice OF right
and justice the acts exercised by Great Britain
within territory that the republic considers
belonging tn her. rights based on geographical
and historical d ocumrnts of tncontestable value.
on authorities Of high repute, many OF them
English, on local traditions worthy OF respect,
and on facts OF jurisdiction Of the commis,aries
of agents OF her Catholic Majesty. and to be
found in the public treaties previous to that of
Aug. IL. 1917. whereby Holland ccdcd To Great
Britain her colonies Of Demerara. Essequipo.
and Berbice.
According to the information of which
the Venezuelan Government is already in pos
session. that which happened on the right bank
of the Cuyuni River WAS caused by a menace
from the agent of the Demerara Government,
who is called inspector o4 that region, to Il Ven
czuean named Loreto Lira, a planter. estab-
lished there for a good many years, TO deter from
the cutting dOwN of trees several OF his coun-
trymen who arrived there, some days after the
commemoraton of the independence OF Venez-
uelR had been celebrated on the bank of tho
river duly 81, in the house of the
named Manuela Cassanas. 1t is known that
the same colonial agent from whom the
threat To Lira had come stated to hin, after
ward that he could continue his work W it'll COM
pete tranquility, and 1t is also known that after
the patriotic rciocings to which they gave
L.af..