New-York tribune., 1896-01-01
NEW EVIDENCE DISCOVERED
LIGHT ON ENGLAND'S PRE-
TENSIONS IN VENEZUELA
A DOCUMENT FOUND BY THE STATE DEPART
MENr WHICH is SAID TO SHOW THAT GREAT
.- BRITAIN MADE NO CLAIM TO THE DIS
'PUTED TERRITORY UNTIL AFTER
scIioMBURGK DEMONSTRATED

ITS VALUE.
Washington Dec 31.-In the last few days the
State Department has made a discovery of con-
siderable importance in the Venezuelan boundary
dispute. which throws new documentary Eght on
the British contention OF ownership west OF the
Schomburgk line arl Lord Salisburys refusal 10
agree to arbitration east Of that line In the
opinion of those officials who engaged In study
ing the various phases of the controversy, this OFF,
cal document demonstrates that England had no
idea of aiming large part OF Venezuela uh'ii
Schomburgk's scientific explorations had disclosed
the great wealth of the region and that she theh
determined to make exorbtant claims. trusting that
part OF them at least. would stick. 1t is also
their opinion that the document nulilfes large
mart OF Lord Salisbury's reply TO Secretary Olney
by showing that the English Premier has not been
entirely dsingenuous in his relation or matters OF
fact; Lord Salisbury. in undertaking 10 correct
Mr.. Olney's statement that the dispute began at
least as early as 1914. when. he says. is FOUNDER
on misconception declares that the dispute Oh the
subiect of the frontier did not in fact begin uhtii
after the year lsiO and he then proceeds to narrate
the circumstances connected with the marking OF
what is called the Schomburgk line in the main
as follows:
In 1886 a grant was made BY the British Govern
ment for the exploration OF the interior OF me
Erltsh colony and Mr. Saiterward sr r;o KooeiU nD
his return to the capital Of the colony in July lSss
called the attention Of the Government 70 me
lie was I'm consequence appointed In November. lsio,
sneciai commissioner for Professionally surveying
and notice OF the appoin ,ment was given to the
Governments concerned. including tnat OF ~ y eneH ,
ueIa The intention of Her MaJestys Government
~ that time was when the work OF the Commits
sioner had been completed. 10 communicate 10 M .ne
oiher Governments their views as 10 the true
BOUNDARY Of the british colony and then TO settle
any details to which those Governments mishs e., taKe
schomburgk did not discover or inven, any new
boundaries In submitting the maps or ms survey
hn ipdic atpdt
o DOSE 70 Her Majesty's Government for adoption.
Sir r. Schomburgk called attention to the iact tnst
1rst nsole BASIN of the Cuyuni and Yuruari the
ground that the natural boundary Of the colony an
which fall into the Essequibo Upon this prin-
cple he wrote the bouHaary 1e "ward wVard the the
sources OF the Cuyuni proper; and from thence thence
toward it's far more northern tributaries the Riyers
approach the very heart of Venezuelan Guiana:
But grounds Of eompasanGe tGwaTa baS S
inland in return for the formal recognition! Of her
hat ne drew the boundary line which has since
been called by his name
The newly discovered document consists OF
letter from viscount Leveson Cafterward Earl Gran
vile, British Under Secretary OF State for Foreign
Affairs TO Sir James Stephen. Permanent unuer
secretarv for the Colonies. written under instruc-
,,op. from Lord Pamerston. Secretary OF Foreign
Affairs for the guidance OF Lord John Russell oec-
retarv for War and Colonies. This important letter
.hows exactly what went inside the British Cabi-
net at the time.
II will be remembered that Schomburgk had been
cont out by the Royal Geographical Society In 1915
,.uh funds supplied by the Government TO explore
,he o-,noco country and that on his return TO Eng
land In 1890 and apparently as result Oh h's la
ypIJiarity with the resources or that country "c
Government chose him as the most aVaao'e per
son to select the richest territory In Guiana wnlcn