The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-03-14
CLAIM

Chli AIN SINiEh
To Territory in Dispute in South America,
as shown by the Venezuela Blue Book
First, and Subsequent Continuous Pos
session by the Dutch and English set
Forth as the Basis of ElgIand's Owner
ship
LONDON, March THE expected
Venezuelan blue book, which is enti-
tied documents and Correspondence
Relating to the Question OF the lIsua-
dairy of Guiana AMI Venezuela" was
issued by the government last night.
The volume consists of i43 folio pages,
with Z separate book containing nine
maps. 1t opens with ~ pages, COM
prIsing Il preliminary statement deal.
ing with the history of the territories
from l52O until the issuance of her ma
jeStyS memorandum to Venezuela. in
March, 1890. The statement concludes
as follows:
The above examination shows that
the main grounds upon which the claim
Of Venezuela is supposed tQ be bascd,s SO
far as 1t has been presente,: to Great
britain at different times during the
past fifty years is follows:
First. The original discovery and
the first exploration of the South
American continent by Spain, which
are clearly irrelevant.
Second. The bull of Pope Alcxan-
der W., which cannot be considered as
having any real bearing upon the
question.
Third. The allegation that the o.
"upatiUn of Guiana by the Dutch wa
Il violation of the treaty of Munster.
This allegation has been shown to be
u~nfoundcd.
Fourth. Possession AID occupation
by the Spaniards OF the territory,
soIth of the OrinocO, including the
rivers Barima, Iurdri and Pomaroon.
1t has been shown thai the only
Spanish settlements there at any time
were Il Thomc dc Guyana, which
wds situated on the south bank of the
UrinOco and which had been moved
from time To time higacr up the river,
As it was destroyed by the British and
Dutch successfully, and by the Capu-
chin settlements, situated between the
OrInuco and the Tumeri:nO, as has
DScl previously ~ulScOVerSI.
Filth. That the Dutch had never
had any possessions north % the EsSa-
guido.
This statement has been shown TO
b. equally erroneous, as Il perusal OF
the whole diplomatic correspondence
will show that the British government,
while insisting that the Just claims Df
treat Britain would cEtItlc her to Z
boundary practically embracing the
whole watershed OF Esscquibo, the
Cuyuni, the Iuruari, the Pomaroou,
the Waini and the iiarima. has been
willing to agree TO 4 boundary within
those limits, which would give Eenc-
zUcla far more territory thar that 10
which She can SHOW any title.
From the summary given OF the fore-
going chapter it will b. secn;that Great
britain, while maintaining her just
rights, has consistently shown Il de-
sire to make Il fair arrangement with
Venezuela, and that the claim OF Ven
czucla that her territory extends to
the EssequibO. was based upon on
tentiOns which are i'll no way sup
ported by facts. and cannot be justi-
he'd upon any reasonable grounds.
Besides the above statement the re-
port holds that the following coDclu-
sious have becn clearly established:
FIRST. That prior To l5OO the Dutch
had established themselves on the
coast of Guiana.
second. That prior to 1896 the Span
iards had established no settlements
in Guiana.
Third. That by 16lS the Dutch set
Elements in Guiana extended along the
cJas the whole way from the river
Maroni to the BariIna. and inland to
various points in the interior upon the
rivers Essequibo, Cuyuni, PJmaroou,
Waini and Barima and their tributa-
ri-S.
Fourth. That up to !7sI the only
settlement of Spaniards in Guiana was
San ThoInc de Guyana, on the south
bank of the O:inoco. originally founded
in 1856 at q site shown on the sketch
map.
Fifth. That between 1928 and 1895
the only additional settlements
founded by the Spaniards in Guiana
We're those established by the Capu-
chin missions south OF the Orinoco in
the direction of the river Gurari and
two villages on the upper OrinUcG,
several hundred miles above San
Thomc de Guyana.
Sixth. That Dutch occupation to the
extent indicated was perfectly we'll
known in Spain, and thai the attempts
of the Spanish to d~ispossess the Dutch
had wholly failed.
Seventh. That subsequently 20 lT9e
Great Britain has continually remained
in possession, and her subjects have
occupied further portions OF the terri
tory to which the Dutch established
their title.
SINGULAR ACCIDENT.
An Oil Well Fired by Friction of Pebbles
n rl-~,-, --.