Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-07
London Newspaper Comments on the
Venezuelan "Blue Book"
REGARDED as A VERY STRONG Case
1t viii Not Be Submitted to the
American Commission.
AID d r ESS ED TO CARACAS

LONDON, March 7.-The Westminster
Gazette. referring to the English claims re-
garding the boundaries OF British Guiana
prese nted in the house of commons saws:
The first point to be made clear is that
the blue book is nothing more than our
case We must not forget that are open
10 answers. We welcome the apparent
strength of our case, not because We imag-
me we score on every point, but because
thefe is Sc much room to give and take"
inc ST. James Gazette says, on the same
subject: 1T is very forcible statement
o1 a very strong case. What interests US
Is the question whether the American COM
mission Will pay full attention to our state
inent, and, having done So Will decide
purely on the evidence without allowing III
Sell 10 be in any degree Influenced 10y other
considerations. We must hope il w!Il We
cannot recognize the commission bu, We
know its findings will have weight in
America"
In conclusion, the st. James Gazette saws:
Tine United States. however, have declar-
ed that We must arbitrate, and on terms
approved by them, and that If We decline
we might expect war. This, in the main
Lines, is The situation between Great Britain
and the United States, and We deiude our
selves if We suppose that a settlement is
elaborate and exhaustive blue books
The Globe has this to say on the subject:
Although the British case is thus brought
into court ii would be profound and most
regretable miSconception to assume that il
will he submitted formally or Informally 10
the american government Such action
would practically admit the right of the
nIted States 10 intrude in an authoritative
ana imperiouS manner into all disputes
with European powers possessing terri
tories in America and neighboring states.
Our case is not presented to Washing; ION.
but 10 Caracas. OF course We hope the
Americans will recognize the impregna bic
strength of position, but they cannot
too clearly understand that England Will
not crook the Interference of an outside
power during discussion of the question"
The British Claim.
The Venezuelan blue book, or the English
case. presented to the house of commons
yesterday. held hat the following conclu-
sioTs have been clearly established:
First. That prior to 1880 the Dutch had
established themselves on the coast OF
Gliana.
Second. That prior to 159G the Span:ar1s
had established no settlements in Guiana.
Third. That by 16iS the Dutch settle
mentS in GuaEa extended along the coast
the whole way from the river Maroni TO the
Barima and inland to various points in
the interior upon the rivers Essequibo. l-u-
YUM. Pomeroon. Waini and Barima and
their tributaries
Fourth. That up to 1123 the only settle
ment OF SPaniards in Guiana was San
Thome de Guayana. on the south bank OF
the Orinoco, originally founded in 1895 al
site shown on the sketch map.
Fifth. That between 1t23 and 1896 the
only additional settlements founded 10y
Spaniards in Guiana We're those ESTABLISHED
10y the Capuchin missions, south of The o!i-
noco in the direction of the river Guruari,
and two villages on the upper Ornoco sey-
eral hundred miles above San Thome de
Guayana.
Sixth. That Dutch occupation 10 the eN-
tent above indicated was perfectly well
known in Spain, and that the attempts of
the Spanish to dispossess the Dutch had
wholly failed.
Seventh. That subsequently, to lIT Great
Britain has continuously remained in pos
session and her subjects have occupied
further portions of the territory TO which
the Dltch established their title.