The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02
LIGHT On SCH0MBURGK.
NEW ETIDENCE rs 10 THE DR4T-
ING OFETSLINE.
Surveyors Report on the Mineral Wealth
ofthe Country Now In Question and
its Effect on highlands Claims.

a discovery OF considerable Importance,
which throws new light on the British
contention Of ownership west OF the
Schomburgk line in Venezuela and Lord
Salisburys refusal TO agree 70 arbitration
east OF that line. In the opinion OF those
officials who are engaged IN studying
the various phases Of the controversy
this official document demonstrates that
England had no idea OF claiming large
part Of Venezuela until Schomburgk' :
scientific explorations had disclosed the
great wealth OF the region. and that she
then decided 10 make cXOrbitant claims,
trusting that part of them, at least,
would hold. II is also their opinion that
the document nullihes a large part or
Saiisburys reply TO Olney by showing
that the English Premier has not been
entirely disngeuuous in his narrative OF
matters OF fact.
Lord Salisbury, I'm undertaking TO cor
rect Mr.. oincy's statement that the dis
pute began at least as early 1914. which.
he says, is founded on misconception,
declares that the dispute on the subject
OF tho frontier did not. I'm fact. COM
menco until after the year 1850. and he
then proceeds to narrate ;he clrcum-
stances or the marking OF what is called
the Schombursk line IN the main, as
follows.
In 1885 a grant was made by the Bril-
fish Government for tho exploration OF
the interior OF the British colony. and
Mr. tafterwarl Sir RoberD Sch0mburgk
who was employed on this service. on ms
return 10 the capital OF the colony In
July. 1892 called the attention Of the
Government 10 tho necessity for an early
oemarcauon OF IT, boundaries. lie was,
In consequence, appointed in November
1870, Special Commissioner for provision
ally surveying and do!imiting the boun-
diaries of British Guiana, and notice or
the appointment was given to the Gov
ernments concerned, including that OF
Venezuela
"fhe intention Of her Maiesty's Gov
eminent az tnat time was. when the work
OF the Commissioner had been completed,
TO communicate to the other Govern
ments their views as 20 the true boun-
dairy of tho British colony. and then 20
settle any details TO which those Govern
mcnts might take objection
ut is important TO notice that Sir *.
Schombursk did not discover or invent
any new boundaries. ln submitting the
maps of his survey. on which he indi-
Gated the line which he would propose
10 her Majesty's Government for adop-
ton. Sir X. Schomhurgk called attention
10 tho fact that her Majesty's Govern
ment might justly lay claim 10 the whole
basin of the Cuyuni and luruari, on the
ground that the natural boundary Of the
colony included any territory through
which flow rivers which fail into the
EssequibO. Upon this principle he
wrote, the boundary line would run
from the sources OF the Carumani to-
ward the sources Of the Cuyun proper
and from thence toward IT'S tar more
northern tributaries. the rivers Iruary
VuruarD and lruang Nuranl. and thus
approach the very heart of Venezuelan
Guiana But, on grounds of complai-
sance toward Venezuela. he suggested
that Great Britain should consent 10
surrender her claim to more extended
frontier inland IN retun for the formal
recognition of her right TO Point Barima.
10 was on this principle that ne drew the
boundary line which has since been
called by his name"
The ncwly-discOverod document is
letter from Niscount Leves0n afterward
Earl Granville, British Under-Scretary
OF State for Foreign Affairs 10 Sir James
Stephen, Permanent Under-Scretary for
the Colonies. written under instructions
from Lord Palmerston Secretary OF
Foreign Affairs FOR the guidance Of Lord
John Russell. Secretary for War and TIE
Colonies. This important letter shows
what went on ID the British Cabinet AZ
the time.
To viii De remembered that schomburek
had been sent ont by the Royal Geo
graphical Society in i~5, with funds
supplied by the Government 10 explore
ID Iaaafaa.
return 20 England. in 1892. and apparently
as a result OF bis familiarity With the
resources of that country. the Govern
ment chose him as the most available
person 90 select the richest territory
ia Guiana. which would constitute nat
urally Eneland's share I'm any suisse
quent division. The note is as follows;
Foreign once. is March 1870.
"Sir: ] am directed by NiscOunt PALM
orston TO acknowledge the receipt of your
letter Of the 9th instant. enclosing copies
and extracts Of dispatches and their en-
closures. from Mir. Light Governor OF
British Guiana. relative 10 the eXpediency
of an arrangement being made with the
Brazilian. Venezuelan, and NetHeriand
Governments. by which the boundaries
OF British Guiana may be accurately de-
fined
"With reference 10 that part OF your let
ter I'm which YOU state that Lord John
Russell considers IL 10 be- important that
the boundaries OF British Guiana should
be ascertained and agreed upon, n posi-
bic. and that Mr.. Schomburgk's research
rs in those parts have qualified him IN
peculiar manner 10 be Of use. should the
services of any person acquainted with
the geography OF British Guiana be re-
quired for fixing the boundaries OF the
British territory ! am 10 state 20 YOU
that the course OF proceeding which Lord
PaImerston would suggest Tor the con-
sideration Of Lord John Russell is that
man Of British Guiana should be made
out according TO the boundaries desc--bed
bv Mr.. Schomburgk. that the said map
should be accompanied by memoir, de-
Fcribing In detail the natural features
which define and constitute the hounda-
ries IN question, and that copies Of that
map ana memoir should be delivered %
the governments OF Venezuela. Of Brazil
and Of the Netherlands. as statement Of
the British claim.
.'That in the meanwhile British COM
niissioners should be sent 10 erect land
MARKS on the ground in order 10 mark
ont by permanent erectiOns the line or
boundary so claimed by Great Britain.
II would then rest with each Of the three
governments above mentioned to make
any Oh lection which they might have 10
bring forward against these boundaries
and 10 state the reasons upon which such
objections might be founded and her
Mafesty's Government would then give
such answers thereto as might appear