The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-22
CUT DOWN THE URUAN CLAIM
THE INCIDENT DIVORCED FROM
THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE.

The Constable Who Was the Party
Aggrieved Satisfied When Paid
$500 or $500 to Compensate Him
for His ImprisOnment-The Colon
iaI Government, However, Imme-
diateIy Demanded an Enormous
Indemnity.
Washington, March 21.-The so-called
Uruan incident has been divorced from
the Venezuelan boundary dispute and
practically terminated, it is understood
through the agency of the United States,
without the representatives of Great Brit
ain and the South American republic COM
ing into direct relations regarding the af-
fair. This Uruan incident, so-called, had
at one time a. somewhat threatening as
pect, but finally developed into compare
tive insignifcance capable of exceedingly
tame adjustment. 1t is strenuously con-
tended by those most intimately concerned
that the incident never had an ultirnatum
stage and that there was never any foun-
dation for the report that a British fleet
would be called upon to initiate the Corin-
TO demonstration.
While originally the claim presented
through the German legation in Novem-
Der, 1884, was for a violation of the 'front.'
Ter of British Guiana and therefore insep-
arabic from the boundary controversy, at
Secretary Olneys instance, Great Britain
few weeks ago modified it into a de-
mand, similar in effect to that pressed by
Italy against the United States on ac-
count of the New Orleans riots in $780,
which claim was settled by President Har-
risOn by the payment of a certain sum of
money out of the state department con-
ungent fund. 1t is understood that the
lruan demand now simply becomes one
Tor personal damages inflicted upon Er1t-
lsn property and persons by Venezuelan
othcials, leaving out of the controversy
the question whether the occurrence was
on Venezuelan territory as being nrele-
want.
When Douglas Barnes, the British
Guiana constable was arrested in July,
1874, by Venezuelan soldiers on the right
pank of the Cuyuni river, which he had
crossed to stop a Venezuelan planter from
cutting trees on land which he owned, the
Nenezuelan government paid Barnes $5OO
or 800 on account of his Imprisonment,
which he personally considered as salts
factory.
OF 1t considerable indignation arose IN
Demerara and the damages " ere soon
magnihed to enormous amounts and at
mat period the home government felt
constrained to present a claim against
venezuela. After two years. however,
and in view of the changed aspect of the
70 5000 and this amount is probably about
what Venezuela will shortly pay, with the
ostlnct understanding that 1t does not
affect the title to the territory upon which
Inc arrest occurred.
Washington, March 21.-Secretary Nal
et-Prevost of the Venezuelan commits
sion this afternoon issued the following
statement: During the past week re-
ports have been industriously circulated
10 the effect that the commission has
reached a decision with reference to the
boundary question favorable to VeneZue-
ia This having been denied the report
,s.ds been circulated in another form, and
y IS now asserted that while the COM
MISSION, as a body, have reached no such
Inclusion, the commissioners individu-
any entertain the views referred to.
90 II must be evident to all that so long
70 anything remains to be examined and
eunslqered the commissioners are not IN
e position to form an opinion respecting
t merits Of the controversy. AS
later Of fact neither the commission
w. VT ne individual commissioners are a.
;1 ss IN possession of all the evidence. The
'"pets presented by Venezuela are bur