Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-01-24
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON: FRIDAY EVENING, JAM a. 1896

winter season from April to November.
The climate Of the temperate part Of
the country is the finest in South
America, the most salubrious, outside
of Peru. The women OF Venezuela are
OF the Spanish type and are elebrated
for their beauty.
The language of the country is
Spanish, no language is sweeter. About
100000 persons, in all, speak
Spanish as their native language, a
majority of them living in South and
Central America.
The United States exports to Vene-
zuela 100000 worth OF goods per
annum, chiefly manufactured articles.
From Great Britain it imports about
the same as from the United States.
The exports from Venezuela to the
United States average $l2,OOO,0OO, to
France $1,000, 900, to England 50 600, :
600 and to Germany and Spain $780,
600 each.
The debt of Venezuela is about $22,-
100000, about one.fifth of the debt OF
New York city. The debt of Vene-
zuela is $ll per capita. In the United
States the debt is $l4 per capita, in
England $S7 and in France SIG.
Notwithstanding bad government
and corruption in official stations, the
country is in good condition financially,
owing to the rich natural resources of
the country.
Venezuela contends that rightfully
England owns but 10000 square miles
of territory in British Guiana. This
was acquired in 1914 from the Dutch.
1t is claimed by the Venezuelan gov.
ernment that between 1889 and 1S41
England employed Sir. Robert
Schomburgk, surreptitiously and with.
out the consent OF Venezuels, to draw
a line taking in 10000 square miles.
This Schomburgk line was shown in
maps accompanying the proceedings
of the Royal Geographical Society of
1880, and falls far short OF England's
present claim. 1t is claimed that by
alterations of this line English claims
had grown by 1885 to 10000 square
miles. England is also charged with
removing the boundary posts set up
by Schomburgk, and resetting them
to conform TO the new line as laid
down in her official maps. England
now claims the territory lying beyond
the altered Schomburgk line, and
asserts title to 100000 square miles.
The world having taken little interest
in the South American boundaries,
England was in easy position to claim
all she wanted. But arbitration meant
inquiry and it is suspicious circum.
stance that England would not arbi-
trate. Now that the United States
has moved in the matter, and ap-
pointed an able and conscientious COM
mission, the world will be given the
right of this controversy. The in
vestigation will be full and impartial,
and conducted in a judicial manner by
disinterested tribunal. The United
States has not assumed TO assert any
divisional line between the two coun-
tries, bat merely insisted that the dis.
pute should be submitted to impartial
arbitration, and that England would
not be allowed to draw arbitrary
boundary lines on this continent. The
present commission will ascertain the
true boundary line between England
and Venezuela, and while no one will
be bound by the findings of the COM
mission, it would be bold and rash
act to disregard the conclusions
reached. The high character OF the
gentlemen composing the commission,
insures the respect of the world, and
there will be ready acquiescence in
the decision of the commission, unless
England is anxious for a fight on this
continent. If such should be the
case, it would not be surprising to find
the good natured Yankees willing to
oblige her. The people of this conti-
nent owe England a great deal, and if
the old lady has an itching and burn.
ing desire to engage in the wager of
battle, it would be unkind not to
crafty her.
1t might not be the best thing for
England, but then che must be allowed
to decide.