Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-13
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
Submitted at Todays Meeting Of the
ven.suels.Ik .6Snuission.
I. Set. Forth thl l.t,er of AFFAIR.
in the D,.hutA rerr,tor,
Some eafs Ago.

All the members " Aa4e Venezuelan COM
mission were present at the regular weekly
meeting today. and the entire morning ses-
sion was consumed in discussion of matter
already before the body,
Mr.. Scruggs, the counsel for the Vene-
zuelan government. called just before the
meeting opened and presented another
pamphlet, supplementing the case laid be-
fore the commission a day or two ago.
This was a volume of thirty-eisht pages,
entitled Official Report of the Condition of
Affairs in the Disputed Territory in March,
1890" 1t comprises correspondence be-
tween the Venezuelan consul at George
town, British Guiana, and his home govern
ment. DEGREES Of the Venezuelan minister
of the interior. and reports from and In
structions to DR.. Seijas, who was the head
of special commission appointed by the
Venezuelan government to ascertain just
what inrOadS the British were making into
Venezuelan territory.
What 1t Shows.
The matter is interesting mainly because
of the light 1t casts upon the situation in
the disputed territory following the discov-
cry of. gold in paying quantities and the
conditions which led up to the clash at
Yuruan. In March the Venezuelan consul
informs his government that the governor
on the 18th to make an official visit TO the
Barima and Amacura rivers; also that a
private excursion, headed by ]. S. Har-
greaves, had started for the mines In the
Venezuelan Yuruan territory To meet
this the Venezuelan government immedi-
ately appointed comm ission, headed by
DIR. Seijas, also to go into this territory,
placing at its disposal the warship Kelvin
cador.
This was designated as political, ex-
ecutive. scientific and exploring commission
to the territory in dispute with the English
Guyana" Meanwhile the governor of the
Yuruan was instructed to facilitate the
work of the commission and to uphold the
rights of Venezuela in his territory, not per-
hitting any English authority or commits
sion to exercise any act Of jurisdiction
whatever in the property of the republic.
To that end he was to send to the frontier
one or more accommodating parties under
the direction of skillful, prudent and pa
trlotic men to repel in every possible man
ner every overt attempt at usurpation.
Proposition Declined.
Upon the arrival Of DIR. Seijas at George
town he proposed to the British governor
a modus vivendi until both nations could
agree upon final adjustment of the dis
pute, but the governor replied that he had
70 instructions in the matter and request
ed that the proposal be submitted in writ
ing, which was DONE Later the goveror
wrote that he had transmitted the request
to the British government for action.
Reporting upon these events to the min
lister of the interior. DIR. Seijas said that it
vas to be adduced that 1.-The English policy
while in London seeking excuses and pre-
texts for not accepting arbitra ton or a rea-
sonable settlement of the dispute, endeav-
ors to gain time for the governor of Denle-
rara to advance as far as he possibly can
In our land. and occupy a great part there
Of"
Energetic Action. Recomm ended.
Therefore he commanded the most ener-
getic action on the part of his own gov
eminent to meet this policy; the running
Of telegraph lines near to the border; the
establishment of Venezuelan prefecture in
Cuyuni and Essquibo, the establishment of
lying camps adjacent to the British loca-
lions and the maintenance of communica-
ton by steamboat with the officials in the
territory. C-