The San Francisco call., 1896-03-07

occupied Dy the SpanlardS pelnS Tue VIZ
lage of Tumeremo, founded about l7SS.
Before 1876 Dutch settlements existed
far up the Cuyuni. while Dutch tort was
established near Yuruari at about the spot
marked upon the sketch map. The Dutch
had full control of the whole basin OF the
Cuyuni and with the exception OF their
settlement at San Thome de Guayana and
the missions the Spaniards exercised no
authority nordominion whatever over the
territory now in dispute.
The third period, 1896 to 1910, opens with
a quotation from the report of Spanish
Commissioner Requena, in. July, 1902.
After pointing out that the territory be-
tween the Orinoco and Amazon rivers be-
longs to Spain by right of discovery, he
proceeds to state that the coasts had been
abandoned by the Spaniards for more than
a century and that the Dutch and French
had founded colonies on them unopposed
by Spain.
He warned the Government that the
Dutch were advancing up the Essequibo
and might ADVANCE from Cuyuni and
Caroni 20 the Orinoco and take possession
of the lower part of that river. This refer
ence to the position of the Dutch on the
Cuyuni is another of many instances
showing conclusively that their establish
ment on the Cuyuni was perfectly well
known to the Spaniards for many years
prior to 1902.
A report to the commander of the British
forces in the West Indies in 1902 shows
that the Spanish occupation was confined
almost exclusively to the northern banks
of the Orinoco. For about 130 miles from
Barima on the right bank there was no
existing Spanish settlement or occupation
of old Guiana. The original site of the
fort of San Thome de Guayana still
remained unoccupied.
In 1910 careful report of the condition
of Spanish Guiana sent by the Junta Supe-
rior to the King fully confirms the pre-
vious statements of the condition OF Span
ish enterprise in the district. The report
states that the Governor never took
single step toward carrying out the design
to settle the lower part OF the Orinoco, or
to establish a Spanish village with fort
on the right bank.
In 1910 Venezuela declared her inde-
pendence of the crown of Spain. In 1914
treaties were made between Great Britain
ard the Netherlands. The colonies of
Essequibo, Demarara and Berbico were
retained by Great Britain.
Negotiations at the same time between
Great Britain and Spain resulted in
treaty by which the Spanish Government
engaged that in the event of the commerce
of the Spanish American possessions be-
ing opened to foreign nations, British COM
merce should be admitted to trade with
those possessions as most favored nation.
Had any question existed of the right of
Spain to any portion of the territory, long
known as a Dutch colony, it would have
been raised then.
In 1917, General Bolivar, President of
Colombia, with which Venezuela was then
incorporated, issued an order from his
headquarters at Angostura, saying that
the Governor of Guayana must be consid-
cred not only the Governor of the fort at
old Guayana, but also as military Governor
of the Orinoco to its mouth.
In 1897 an official report upon the extent
and situation of the crown lands of the
colony gave the boundary of the colony
recognized at that date as follows: On
the north the seacoast from the mouth of
the river Abari to Cape Barima, near the
line running north and south from Cape
Barima into the interior.
In 1881, in the course OF an investigation
connected with certain trials for murder,
the jurisdiction of Great Britain had to be
investigated. The evidence given clearly
established that grants of land had been
made for considerable distances up the
Esseouibo, Massaruni and Cuyuni rivers,
and that Dutch settlements and forts ex-
tended still fu,ther along these rivers.
1t was also shown that In the districts in
question the crown OF Great Britain exer-
cised all the rights by which nations usu-
ally indicate claims over territorial posses
sions, and further, that there had been
continuous control over the Indians by
the British. About 1881 report was
made by the agent of the colony to the
Lieutenant-G describing the eff
fective control which had been effected
over the Indians by the protectors and the
post-holders. These reports established
clearly that the Indian tribes inhabiting
the country in submission owed allegiance
to Great Britain. During this period
British missionaries from time to time
visited the various parts of the colonies,
and their reports show that the Spanish
frontier was at the head OF the Cuyuni and
Massaruni rivers.
From the facts detailed in this chapter,
it is clearly established that Great Britain,
on becoming possessor of the colony, sue
ceeded to all the rights of the Dutch.
After 1896 Great Britain extended her
settlements and continuously exer cised
over the territory originally claimed by
the Dutch all those rights by which ma
tons usually indicate a claim OF territory.
Neither Spain nor Venezuela, after the
latter's independence, had either posses
sion of or dominion over the territory in
question.
A part of the fourth period after 1910
opens with an explanation that the first
Schom burg map. in 1889. was not official,
but an actual line prepared on the COM
missions survey.
In 1840 and 1842 it came to the knowl-
edge of the Government that six years
before correspondence had passed between
the Venezuelan authorities and the British
Consul at Caracas in which the latter, at
the request of the British Vice-Consul at
Angostura, proposed to Venezuela that
they erect beacon on Cape Barima in
Il. It l. L L