The San Francisco call., 1896-06-25
The Action of Venezuela il
Making Crown Surveyor
a Prisoner.
STEPS TOWARD ARBITRATION
An Interesting Acknowledgment Re.
lating to Disputes on American
Territory.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 24.-As
soon as Secretary Olney returns to the
State Department, and he is confidently
expected tomorrow, he will receive from
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British En-
bassador, request from the British Gov
ernment to use his good Offices with
Venezuela to secure the release from i'm
prisonment of Crown Surveyor Harrison,
who is represented to have been arrested
by Venezuelan police while he was en-
gagged in constructing a road connecting
the Barima and Cuyuni rivers in the dis
puted territory.
This action of Great Britain is consid-
cred in diplomatic circles a radical de-
parture from the usual ultimatum methods
hitherto practiced on American republics,
and much significance is attached to this
fact as probably indicating the consider
able progress made toward an arbitration
agreement and the practical acknowledge
ment that the United States is a party in
interest in the Venezuelan dispute as well
as in future controversies regarding terri
tory on the American continent.
While it is universally agreed that the
new incident is exceedingly unfortunate
just at this juncture there is great diversity
of opinion in fixing the blame. Even the
British Government has the most indefi-
mite knowledge of the exact locality where
the arrest took place, although it is
claimed that the surveying party had no
authority to go outside of the territory oc-
cupied exclusively by English for the past
ten years.
The Venezuelans, however, find consid-
erable satisfaction in the knowledge that
Great Britain will appeal to Secretary
Olney as indicating that it is not of so Sc
rious nature as at first apprehended.
They place the whole blame for what has
occurred on Joseph Chamberlain ag-
gressive fcreign policy. They point to the
fact that under date of December 19, 1894
they mpIained to Secretary Gresham OF
the proposed road upon which Surveyor
Harrison was employed and called atten-
ton to the fact that as the route lay in
Venezuelan territory conflict would be
unavoidable, The appeal was effective for
the time being.
The road was abandoned until August
OF last year, when the Secretary of State
for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain,
sent to British Guiana his demand for the
colonies to raise funds for machine guns,
ton of the Balima road. This was re-
sisted by the Colonial Legislature, with
the exception of defense armament, until
the arrival of the new Governor from Eng
land few months ago, when they were
induced TO appropriate for survey OF the
road.
Venezuela now claims that the RESPONSE
bility rests wholly with Great Britain after
the warning sent TO the Foreign Office
through colonial as well as through United
States channels. 1t is contended at the
legation here that the Venezuelan authori-
ties who made the arrest must of necessity
have been in their own territory, as they
are not permitted to cross the frontier
under any circumstances.
The two English posts are on the right
bank of the Cuyuni and the left bank of
the Amacura. Those OF Venezuela are
directly opposite them, and this status quo
has been rigidly observed by the Vene-
zuelans. In their opinion Harrison must
have been arrested within the Venezuelan
line, and only after warning to keep out.
The Venezuelans to a man, also, are
aware that they have everything to gain
by peaceful methods, and it is incredible
TO their friends here that they could have
so disobeyed orders as to break the status
quo. 1t is said, however, that if Secretary
Olney calls on Venezuela in response to
Great Britains request full report
of the affair will undoubtedly be forth
coming as soon as the Caracas authorities
can investigate.