Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
4 VALUABLE DOCUMENT.
New Light son the Venezuelan
Boundary Dispute.
Clearly Shown That England Had No Idea
Of Claiming Disputed Territory Until
Schomburgk Discovered the Great
Wealth OF the Rezion.

schomburgk Discovered the Great
Wealth OF the Region.
In the last few days the state de-
Partment has made a discovery of con-
siderable Importance to the Venezuelan
boundary dispute, which throws new
documentary light on the British con-
tention of ownershipwesto of the Schom-
burgk line and Lord Salisbury's refusal
to agree to arbitration east of that
line. In the opinion OF those officials
who are engaged III studying the va
rious phases of the controversy. this
official document demonstrates that
England had no idea of claiming q
large part Of Venezuela until Schom-
burgks scientific explorations had dis
closed the great wealth Of the region,
and that she then determined to make
eXOrbitant claims, trusting that part
of them at least would stick. It is also
their opinion that the document multi
ties large part Of Salisbury's reply
to Olney by showing that the English
premier has not been entirely disin-
genuous in his relation of matters of
fact. Lord Salisbury in undertaking
to correct Mr.. Olney's statement that
the dispute began at least as early as
1914, which he says is founded on mis-
conception, declares that the dispute
on the subject of the frontier did not
in fact commence until after the year
1910, and he then proceeds to narrate
the true circumstances connected with
the marking of what is called the
Schomburgk line.
The newly-discovered document con-
sists OF letter from Eiscount Leveson
afterwards Earl Granville), British
under secretary of state for foreign af-
fairs, to Sir James Stephen, permanent
under secretary for the colonies, writ
ten under instructions from Lord Palm
erston, secretary of foreign affairs, for
the guidance of Lord John Russell, sec
rotary for war and colonies. This i'm
portant letter shows exactly what went
on inside the British cabinet at the
time. It will be remembered that
schomburgl1 had been sent out by the
Royal Geographical society in 1885,
with funds supplied by the government,
to explore the Orinoco river, and that
on his return to England in 1899. and
apparently as result of his familiarity
with the resources of that country. the
government chose him as the most
available person to select the richest
territory in Guiana, which would nat
urally constitute England's share in
any subsequent division. The note is
as follows:
"Foreign Office IS March, 1870
Sir: 1 am directed by Viscount Palm
erston to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 9Th inst, enclosing copies
and extracts Of dispatches and their en-
closures from Mr.. Light, governor of
British Guiana, relative to the expediency
of an arrangement being made with the
Brazilian, Venezuelan and Netherland gov
ernments, by which the boundaries Of
British Guiana may De accurately defined.
with reference to that part of your let
ter in which you state that Lord John
Russell considers it to be important that
the boundaries of British Guiana should
be aScertained and agreed upon, if posi-
BILE, and that Mr.. Schomburgk's researches
in those parts have qualified him in a De-
culiar manner TO be of use, should the
services Of any person acquainted with
the geography of British Guiana be re-
CURED for fixing the boundaries of the
British territory, am to state to you that
tho course of proceeding which Lord Palm
erston would suggest for the considera-
ton of Lord John Russell is that map Of
British Guiana should be made out accord
ing to the boundaries described by Schom.
burgk; that the said map should be &C
companied by memoir describing in de-
tail the natural features which define and
constitute the boundaries in question and
that copies of that map and memoir should
be delivered to the governments of Vene-
ZuGla, of Brazil and of the Netherlands, as
a statement Of the British claim. That in
the meanwhile British commissioners
should be sent to erect land marks on the
ground, in order to mark out by permanent
erections the line of boundary so claimed
by Great Britain. 1t would then rest with
each of the three governments above men
toned to make any objection which they
might have to bring forward against these
boundaries and to state the reasons upon
which such objections might be founded
and her maiesty's government would then
give such answers thereto as might appear
proper and just.
Lord PalmerstCn further considers that
it would be eXpedicnt that the Brazilian
detachment should be required to with
draw from Pirara and that the officer
in command should be informed that any
claim which Brazil may imagine itself to
have to that village should be stated by
the Brazilian government to that of Great
Britain, in order that it may be discussed
and settled between the two governments.
l have. etc. (Signedl LEvEsoN.
ITO James Stephen. Esq
In reference to the last paragraph,
it may be stated that Brazil did with
draw from Pirara, and that the south
ern boundary of British Guiana has
now advanced over 100 miles beyond
that point.
Killed by a Brass Door Key.