The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-01-03
oRIaN OF De scHoMBURek IIyE.


The Schomburgk line, with its initial
point at the center of the Orlnoco
mouth, was traced in 1s41 by Sir Rob
ert Sehomburgk, an English engineer.
In surveying it he acted entirely in the
interests of the British government
and without the consent or even the
knowledge Of Venezuela. Great ex-
citement was oecasiOned in the repub-
lie when it became known what Sehom-
burgk had done, and that he had set
up posts to indicate British dominion.
A prompt remOnstrance was made, and
Lord Aberdeen, who was then prime
minister of England, answered, on
December IL, 1841, that the marks
placed by Mr.. Schomburgk at some
points of the country which he had
surveyed we're simply a preliminary
step, subject to future discussion be-
tween the two governments; that they
were the only tangible means of pre-
pairing to discuss the question of limits
with the government of Venezuela;
that they we're placed with that express
object and not, as the government Of
Venezuela seemed to fear it, with the
intention of indicating dominion OF
empire on the part of Great Britain
Soon afterward Lord Aberdeen ordered
that all of Schomburgk's posts should
be removed.
Three years later t1844) Lord Aber-
deem voluntarily proposed to Senior
Forteque, Venezuelan plenipOtentiary
in England, boundary line beginning
on the coast at the mouth of the river
Morocco, which empties into the ocean
some distance to the westward of the
Essequibo.
On November Il, 1850, Mr.. Bedford
Hinton Wilson, charge d'affaires of
Great Britain in Venezuela, sent to the
Venezuelan government a note speci-
fically contradicting a rumor that Eng
land intended claiming Venezuelan
Guiana and adding: 1.-THE Venezuelan
government in justice to Great Britain
cannot mistrust for a moment the sin
cerity of the formal declaration which
is now made in the name and by the
express order of her majesty's govern
ment that Great Britain has no inten-
ton to occupy or encroach upon the
territory in dispute. Therefore the
Venezuelan government, in an equal
spirit of good faith and friend
ship, cannot refuse to make a SINH
lar declaration to her majesty's govern
ment-namely, that Venezuela herself
has no intention to occupy or eneroach
upon the territory in dispute"
Venezuela accordingly gave the de-
sired assurance, and thus was establi-
shed the celebrated status quo of 1850,
which Venezuela has always adhered to
/ in good faith, and which England, dur
ing the last dozen years, has violated
without scruple or bounds.
On September 10, 1881. Lord Gran
vile, in a note to Senior RojeF, Vene-
zuela's diplomatic agent in England
suggested an agreement on a boun-
dairy line to begin on the coast twenty
nine miles east from the mouth of the
river Barima. The starting point thus
indicated is well to the east of the
Orinoco mouth, and, in fact, Granville
explicitly stated that he had endeay-
ored to satisfy the reasonable preten-
sions and claims of Venezuela. giving
to her the so called Dardanelles of the
Orinoco and the complete dominion Of
its mouth.
ENGLAND REPUDIATED TIE TREATY.
Then followed the memorable events
leading to Guzmsn Blanco's mission to
England, his actual negotiation Of a