The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-26
THE TROUBLE AT
BRITISH GUIANA
Troops Are Seat Ont to Protect the
the Esglish Surveyor.
IT IS NOT AN OCCASION FOR WAR
Upon High Authority, However, the
Opinion Is Given That the Arrest Of
Harrison May Bring Matters to q
Climax.

Kingston, Ja., June 25.-According to
advices received from Georgetown,
British Guiana, an armed police force
has been DESPATCHED to Acarabisci for
the purpose OF protecting the British
surveyors. who. while engaged In open
ing a road from Barima to the Cuyuni
river. were stopped by body Of Vene-
zuelans and their leader, Crown Sur
veyor Harrison arrested.
An endeavor will be made to continue
the survey. but the party has been in
structed to retire should determined op-
position be met with.
London, June 25.-Recent advices
from Georgetown, British Guiana are
Of q more calming nature than those
received when the arrest Of MIR. Harri-
son, the British crown surveyor. first
became known. Although no serious
trouble Is anticipated, 1t Is safe to say
that the British government will not
allow the incident to pass without no
tice. and 1t is possible that a remons-
trance OF a most emphatic nature will
be made to the government Of Venez-
uela.
A high authority upon the Venezue-
Ian question, In an interview upon the
situation expressed the opinion that 1t
was likely to bring matters to a climax.
But the gentlemen referred to qualified
this remark with the statement that In
spite OF the serious aspect which the
dispute had once more assumed 1t was
not likely that offensive measures par
taking of the nature Of war would be
necessary, as it was the opinion OF
those best qualified to Judge the affair
here that the arrest Of the crown sur
veyor was not the direct act Of the gov
ernment of Venezuela, but was due to
the hasty and probably irresponsible
action of some local agents who had
acted under q Misrepresentation. and
that when proper representations are
made to the government at Caracas the
latter will apologize.
PROMPT MEASURES.
However, the same authority added,
If a contingency should arise which
would call for such measures, in all
likelihood small military and naval
expedition will be sent to La Guayra,
the pert Of Caracas, and from there to
Caracas. the capital Of Venezuela, which
Is about ten miles distant from La
Guayra. The troops and ships to take
part in this expedition, should 1t turn
out to be absolutely necessary, will. It
appears, be drawn from the British
garrisons at Jamaica, Barbados and
st. Lucia, as 1t would be most difficult
to send troops from Georgetown to the
Urun district. owing to the difficulties
Of the route and the long distance
which such an expedition would neces-
sarily be from Its base Of supplies, al
though military force will in all PROB
ability be promptly sent to the Acar:l-
bisci in order to protect the govern
ment surveyors and roadmakers, who
have been interfered with in their work
by the Venezuelans.
NOT CONSIDERED SERIOUS.
The matter of the arrest of the Grown
surveyor and the apology or explana-
ton to be requested from Venezuela
are not to be looked upon as being as
serious as the expulsion Of Mr.. Hatch,
the British consular agent. from Me
aragua, as q result of the disturbance
at Bluenelds, and which eventually led
to the occupation of the Port of COrinto
by British force until the payment
Of an indemnity was guaranteed by the
government Of Nicaragua.