New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-28
TENEZUELA is SUSPICIOUS
SHE ACCEPTS WITH RESERVATION THE
FRIENDLY ASSURANCES OF Emu
LISH PAPERS.
HER LEGAL. ADVISER IN THIS COUNTRY. MR..
scRtGGs POINTS OUT WHY HE DOUBTS THAT
LORD SALISBURY HAS EXPERIENCED
A CHANGE OF MIND.

A CHANGE OF MIND.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-Representatives OF the
Venezuelan Government in Washington are inclined
TO accept with considerable reservation recent as
surauces of some Of the English newspapers that
Lord Sal,stnry's views on the subject OF the
boundary of British Guiana have experienced
radical change. and that he is now ready 10 cast
aside the Schomburgk line altogether ana supm.
the whole matter TO arbitration at the request OF
either Venezuela the United States In CONVEX
sation with Tribune correspondent tonight VIII
lam l.. ScrLggs who IS the legal adviser In WASH
nxton Of tho Venezuelan Government. SAD
THE London Times Of the 2ith Inst states
authoritatvely that England is willing TO ABANDON
the Schomburgk line a. limit, ana TO exclude
from arbitration only the settled districts III the
disputed territory; that If proposition 10 TINS
effect were now made by Venezuela. or the United
states in It's behalf settlement would immediate
Is come to view: that the door would De open iot
a counter proposition: and that II Is no secret mat
Lord Salisbury IL quite prepared to consider ia'or-
ably any fair and frank proposition. etc lheSe
statements we're cabled TO the press In this coun-
try as unofficial utterances ana nave peen "ei-
coined as indicating purpose on the part OF the
British Cabinet modify its position and 10 aiio"
the question Of boundary to go 10 aro.traton Win"
OUT nadmissps al rbs Tnes arcle to have been
inspired from high official sources. what IS ls rear
Abandonment Of the capricious Schombursk line OF
Isio and the exclusion from arbitration OF only the
sre9 ei s.temeHt Within sisht It would be
practical restoration OF the status quo OF 1850 wnch
is all Venezuela has ever eonended ior as pre- pre-
south OF inc Aberdeen line of 1874 would 80 TO
arbitratIon and II n the course OF the inveSuga-
lion II should appear that Engands title 10 any
lands between that line and the Essequbo River Is
adjective tina, point could likewise be referred 10
arbitration. To all inten,s and purposes tnis
would be revival Of Lord ,S Who custom Of
boundary was to be referred to arbttraton put
which unfortunately repldated by r MS I'M I'M
mediate successor In office. LoTd SALISBURY, t"o
on bowever by settled districts are be under
the diplomatic agreement OF 1850, The Iimess
rect and some What dsinsenuous reasser.!on Of the
schomburgk line limit. For 1t Is notorious thar
have sprung up at every available or stratesc
point within the original Schomburgk line and IN
..hS ON the tpper cuyuni River Indeed ali
led British settlements on the coast between
dsie wniie those on the oiulma River and on the
right and eft banks OF the Cano Moreoo. and al
Ama.ursa and Barima Point are or sti later origin.
Not one OF the latter Is more than fifteen years old.
ANA most of them had absolutely no existence IN
1874 All OF them. In fact, were made against the
repeated protests and vigorous remonsrances OF the
Venezuelan Government, ana nearly II not cute cute
than once acknowledged 70 be WITHIN the uniispu'-
81 domain and jurisdiction OF Venezuela.
1T Is we'll TO keep in mind also that Brazo Ba-
rima so recently occupied by the British. - n
reality the main estuary of the Orinoco. and the
great river from the Atlantic ocean. II is quite
nantes, then" added Mr.. Scruggs that in the
absence OF some definite underst ndlng as TO what
shall be deemed settled dstricts-wnat shall be
the time necessary TO give them that character,
tablish.l sentry boxes and police stations shall be
deemed settled dstricts-it would be worse than
by The Times II Is hardy necessary to add.
however that Venezuela Is ready and anxious.
as she has ever been since 1874. to favoraby con-
slider any far and frank proposition looking to
nn-l settlement by arbitration.