Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-03

between the governments or Great
Britain and Venezuela during the peri
cd between November, lsi0. when Sir
Robert schombergk was appointed
commissioner by the British govern
ment TO survey the western territory
of British Guiana. End April, lsis.
when England finally removed the
boundary posts which he had set at
various points In that territory to form
the so-caled Schombergk line.
II appears from the correspondence
that October 5. 1871, Senior Fortlque.
Venezuelan minister In London. wrote
to Lord Aberdeen. secretary OF state
for foreign Affairs, expressing surprise
at the erection OF British sentry box
upon Venezuelan territory and urging
the necessity Of entering upon q treaty
OF boundaries as previous step to the
hxation OF limits. Lord Aberdeen re-
piled TO this on october q, saying he
had received Mr.. Schombergk's report,
at appears Lord Aberdeen con-
tlnued, that Robert Schombergk
planted the boundary line posts at GER
tain points In the country he surveyed
and that he was fully aware that the
demarkation he made was only
preliminary measure open to discus
sion between the governments of Great
Britain and Venezuela but II does not
appear that Mr.. Schombergk left be-
hind my guard house, or sentry box,
or building bearing the British dag"
Senior Fortlque replied to this on No.
vember is. asserting that Mr.. Schom-
berLk doubtlessly oyerstepped his In
structions by planting at point at
the mouth of the Orinoco several posts
bearing the queens initials. and he
himself raised the British Tag ut the
same place with show OF armed
force. lie also performed several other
acts OF domination and government.
Senator F0rtique reminds Lord
Aberdeen that Venezuela has not re-
ceived an answer to her proposal to
nrbltTate the boundaries before Mr.
SchomberglS starts and that by an
act OF extreme courtesy to the British
government Mr.. Schombergk had not
been forcibly expelled.
No reply being received Senator
Fortlque again on December s, adj
dressed Lord Aberdeen Insisting upon
the conclusion OF a treaty or the re-
moval OF Mr. Schombergk's posts. pro-
testing against delay and quoting a
promise made by the government OF
British Guiana to two Venezuelan COM
missioners that no forts should be
erected or troops sent into the dis
Lord Aberdeen broke the silence on
December II, confirming the
schombergk line as n mere preliminary
measure and Directing 10 the removal
OF the posts which an0rd the only
tangible means by which GREAT Britain
IL prepared to discuss the boundaries"
He continues, "Hhcse posts were
erected Tor that purpose and not as tho
Venezuelan government appears TO ap-
prchcnd as Indications ot dominion and
empire on the part OF Great Britain"
Senator Fortlque on January 10. 1872,
regrets that he Is obliged 10 again in
slst upon the removal of the posts
= Ia q N8.N. -. Al 10.
would give rise to disorder. lie points
TO TIE e yample OF Neucauola and tho
United States N Columbia which first
made q boundary treaty and then de-
linaatod territory
The Chronicle correspondent says
these posts were removed on the dis
tinct understanding that Great Bril-
toin ana "H' thereby abandon her claim
TO the position, and 10 this conncc-
tlou hp gives two documents. one from
Demararu, dated October o. 1912. ana
from Caracas, dated April is. 1912, both
expressing the hope that all grounds
OF remoustrauce VIII be removed by
Great Brltain's concession OF the re-
moval OF Sir. Schomh-rgks land marks
from Bar0mio and elsewhere,
The Chronicles correspondent then
continues as follows:
Observe there Is no word OF the
condition Indicated by Lord Sails
bury II their documents are genuine,
and their source excludes any sus-
piciNn 90 the contrary. then the Schom-
bergk line Is proved worthless as a
basis for any territ 1rial clnim."
The New York correspondent of the
Times reviews the records OF tho Vene-
zuelan commission. giving special at
tention to Frederick Coudert ana
quoting at length from interviews with
Mr., Coudcrt approving President
Cleyelnnds course. published at the
time Of the delivery OF the Venezue-
Ian message
In these interviews some OF the
phrases regarding Great Britain are
quoted
In nm editorial the Times comments
rather severely on the presence OF Mr..
Coudert on the commission, and notes
that with one exception tAndrew
Nhltc) the commissioners are un-
known hero.