New-York tribune., 1896-01-29
ENGLAND'S DOUBTFUL CLAIM
EDWARD DICEY EXPOSES ITS WEAKNESS
IN THE LONDON TIMES"
scHoMBuRGK LINE uNrENABLE.

HE ADVOCATES ARBITRATION AND THINKS THIS
scHoMBURGK LINE UNTENABLE
Edward Dicey the well-known English journalist
and literary man. authority the colonial af-
fairs OF Great Britain. has written letter to The
London Times" two columns In length, discussing
the question OF arbitration in connection with the
Venezuelan dispute He states clearly the fact that
the positions OF the United States and England are
irreconcilabe as they stand. and while avowing
himself ardent supporter Of the extension Of the
imperial domain. he maintains that the game must
be worth the candle in each case where the I'M
perial Government is 10 take decided stand. He
does not consider the game to be worth 1t In the
of Venezuela, Is he certain OF the tenabily
OF Great Britain's claim. lie says In part:
NOTHING TO GAIN
In as far as can speak confidently about
country Of which know little. fail to see that any
increase decrease In the area Of British Guiana
would produce any indirect effect on the fortunes
OF the British Empire. On the other hand. see
clearly that the assertion of our full abstract rights
as against Venezuela might possibly, or even prob
ably involve us in a with America-that Is. n
a conflict in which we have nothing to gain ana
everything to lose. should therefore be inconsist-
ent with my own principles If did not apply them
to the case OF Venezuela. The sef-same grounos
which led me years TO deprecate the cessioh Oh
the Transvaal lead me to-day to deprecate the as
sertion of our claim to the Schomburgk line In tho
candle being the risk of further war with the Doe,'
In the latter the game is not worth the candle .ne
candle being the risk OF a war with the on''e~
States Between our two countries contest 49,
and must be. unequal one the chahces Vi war
may be- and believe in favor Of Great britain.
II is the stakes that are so fearfully UNEQUAL ho.
anv level headed man think out for himself WHAT
America and England stand respectively u iose'
supposng the fortunes OF war go asaans, e.,,, CON-
and he WILL sure agree WIN me tna t,,e mad
Nhic n
to engage. unless war could only De a'oiueu Wy '''
sacrifice OF honor and our credit, so 70 imagine
that the acceptance Of arbitration even IL iS VIZ
Schomburgk line was left an open question, wouuo @
srfect our prestige as a nation am told that we
cannot afford desert settlers VINO nase h heISaf
that in So settling they assured OF the pro-
lection of the British Empire l agree Iur'' h, W." no
r,,s cartan that the statement is correct Before
can accept the conclusion should Ike 10 ,' ni,o~
lii ~ these settlers the date Of their occupancy.
the nature OF their titles. ana tne ,easo,s ~ ~
have Induced them to locate themselves IN % one OF
the most unhealthy. out-of the-way and inaccess, %
BILE of colonial possessions an we ar - hut II
bound to protect our feow-countIymen, 1S,ai pus ~
adequate compensation were provided no indsauat a.
settler would have just cause OF compatht, % ,hr are
is difficult my mind to believe u tnat unsre uho ~
any considerable number OF English citizens VINO r g.
their own free will and choice nave nnan, maue '"e''
homes In the swamps of the territory III osp"'e'
CLAIMS NOT so STRONG AFTER ALL.
Again. no dscredit attaches to the admission
nu,sd territory Is based not as strong as We
originally supposed. 1t is. OF course possible tha'
the record Of case. which the Go'erh"e'.' mas
undertaken to produce may prove so cohc'us'o
as to admit of contention But J. sees a 9fer
that such a contingency Is most improDaDle. Alter
Ali there Is no getting the facts that the lron
tier controversy between Great Britain anu anu ,he
uela has going on for the better part y, W. ~.
present century: that the dispute reiates 10 e,o
hnerands OF remote van rese to- either the
Dutch or the Span,lfds, from whom Britlsn Sin:
ana aenrnar,a ~ many years successive British
governments have proposed seven enurei! u.nSi
ent frontier lines one after he other ana ,nat sS
whole history OF the negotiations Is too conIuseo
TO admit OF anything like absolute lncon'roNe @
rhesn taTs by sir Toemachs
Sinclair who has devoted great attenuon i p,,iaS %
Museum which. they were published rShanv by Mr;
Wilde the weknoWn T ,Ss Mere copny smd
that these maps. the first Of which was papnsnes
long ago as lS2s describe tne a,rco sae anhortv
that as late ms 1885, the then Governor OF Britisn
Guiana cautioned all applicants for % ,s r,sS IN isS
side Of the schomburgk line that these licenses Spy py
order OF the Home Goyernment, & svent Of settle
ment tho land might become part OF Nenezueian
oid b rncornized have not had the oppor:
tunity to verify these statements for myself b.t
correct they seem 10 me to prove concusiveiy thae
in common Justice we cannot claim to decide tho
matter in dispute in our own favor ana .at ese.'
II we could do so justly common sense would ior-
hid our running the risk of a war with America IN
smnnort OF contention which. TO say the least, is
not unasSailable ,...,. -. A..
The mode form and terms Of arbitration and the
selection OF an arb.er are all matters which may
b LEFT safely to the Foreign Office in whose )udS-
ment under the present Ministry for one nave tne
fullest confidence. All | wish to urge Is tnat an
admission on our part OF the whole !enez,ueian !,e
frontier question being open in principle to arotra
ton is an essential condition OF any satisinctoIx
nacifc settlement OF our dispute with the uniteo
states II So think It must be granted also tnat
this is an admission England may fairy make, no
only with immense advantage to her imperial inter
ests but without detrment TO her imperial prestse