The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-14
AN AGED DOCUMENT
The Text of a Letter From Lord Aber-
deem on the Schomburgk Survey.
1T BEARS DATE JAN. /, 1912
Comment of the London Press,
Which Asserts That Venezuela
Must Take the Initiative
In a settlement.

(Copyrighted 1896 by Associated Press).
London, Jan. 13.-The associated press
is enabled to transmit to America an
important document bearing upon the
Venezuelan question, namely, the text
of a letter from Lord Aberdeen the
then British secretary for foreign al
fairs to NJ. Fortique, who at that time
represented Venezuela In London.
which was written at the time the
posts which had been set to mark the
Schomburgk line were removed In COM
pliance with the protest of Venezuela
This letter will doubtless be given
conspicuous part in the forthcoming
blue book, as II is known the govern
ment attaches much Importance 10 III.
While it is admitted that, in letter
dated March 80, 1874, Lord Aberdeen
stated that in removing the posts Great
Britain had not coded any rights, II
was contended that no document was
in existence making any such conten-
ton at the time Great Britain had or
dered the removal and that the removal
was a tacit admission that the Schom-
burgk line was wrong. Following is
the letter, the authenticity of which Is
| unquestionable:
"Foreign office, Jan. 1, 1S42.-The I'M
dersigned, ETC., has the honor TO ac-
| knowledge the receipt of a note ad-
dressed to him on the 10th inst, by
Monsieur Fortique, etc., representing
the alarm and excitement which has
been created in Venezuela ON account
| of marks fixed by Schomburgk at diff
| ferent points in his survey near the
| mouth of the Orinoco, and renewed his
requests that her majesty's government
will order the removal of these marks
| ''The undersigned begs TIC inform M
Fortiaue in reply, that in order to meef
the wishes of the government OF Ven
ezuela, her majesty's government VIII
send instruction to the governor OF
| british Guiana directing him to remove
| the posts which have been placed by
Schomburgk near the Orinoco. The un-
| dersigned feels ii his duty to distinctly
declare to NJ. Fortique that, although
10 nut an end to the Apprehension
which appears to prevail in Venezuele
with regard to the object OF Schom'
burgk's survey, the undersigned has
consented to comply with the renewed
| representation of NJ. Fortique upon THU
affair. her majestys government mus
not be asked to abandon any portion O
the rights of Great Britain over TN
territory which was formerly held b!
. the Dutch in Guiana.
..,rhe undersigned has the honor u
: be. very respectfully, the obedient ser
: want of M. Fortique.
(Signed) Aperueeh'
,, This letter is regarded here as an an
, swer TO the contention of Henry Nor
man. special commissioner of tn
e Chronicle, who first gave the Engis
! public, through his paper, document
which seemed to invalidate the clair
. of the Schomburgk line as tru
boundary line. But 1T is to be observe
that Norman and the Venezuelan gov
e eminent also have not claimed that
e removing the boundary posts, Grea
e Britain abandoned any portion OF he
rights 'over the territory which wa
a formerly held by the Dutch in Guiana
Z but simply that she had abandoned tn
schomburgk line as marking the linn
of that territory.