The herald., 1896-01-14
TWO IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Bearing on the Venezuela Boun-
dairy Question
THE OLD SCHOMBERG LINE
Abandoned as Not Including All of Eng.
lands Claims
The File Clerk of the House Discovers English
Agreements Pledging Support to
THE OLD SCHOMBERG LINE

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, Jan. 13.-[Copyrghted, 1896,
by the Associated Press The Associated
Press is enabled to transmit to America an
important document bearing upon the
Venezuelan question, namely, the text of a
letter from Lord Aberdeen, the then British
secretary of foreign affairs, to M Fortique,
who at that time represented Venezuela
in London, which was written at the time
the posts which had been set to mark the
Schomberg line, were removed in compli-
ance with the protest of Venezuela.
This letter will doubtless be given con-
spicuous part in the forthcoming bluebook,
as it is known the government attaches
much Importance to it.
While it is admitted that in letter dated
March 80, 1914, Lord Aberdeen stated
that in removing the posts Great
Britain had not ceded any rights
it was contended that no docu-
ment was in existence making
any such contention at the time Great
Britain had ordered the removal, and that
the removal was tacit admission that the
Schomberg line was wrong.
Following is the letter, the authenticity
of which is unquestionable:
"FoREIGN OFFICE, Jan. 81, 1S42.-The
undersigned, etc., has the honor to ac-
knowledge receipt of note addressed to
him on the 10th inst by M. Fortique, etc, e,
representing the alarm and excitement
which has been created in Venezuela on
account of the marks fixed by Mr.. Schom-
burg at different points in his survey near
the mouth of the Orinoco and renewing
his requests that her maiesty's government
will order the removal of these marks.
1.-THE undersigned begs to inform M.
Fortique in reply that in order to meet the
wishes OF the government of Venezuela her
majesty's government will send instruc-
tions to the governor of British Guiana di-
recting him to remove the posss set by Mr..
Schomburg near the Oronoco. But the
undersigned feels it his duty to distinctly
declare to M. Fortique that although in
order to put an end to the apprehension
which appears to prevail in Venezuela with
regard to the object of Mr.. Schomburg' 3
survey the undersigned has consented to
comply with the renewed representations
of Nj. Fortique upon this affair. Her
majesty's government must not be under
stood TO abandon any portion of the rights
of Great Britain over the territory which
was formerly held by the Dutch in Guiana.
The undersigned has tho honor to be very
respectfully, ABERDEEN"
This letter is regarded here as an answer
to the contentious of Mr.. Henry Norman,
special commissioner of the Chronicle, who
first gave the English public, through his
paper, documents which seemed to invali-
date the claim of the Schomberg line as a
true boundary liEe But it is to be OBJ
served that Mr.. Norman and the Vene-
zueian government also have not claimed
in removing the boundary posts, Great
Britain abandoned any portion of her
rights ''over the territory which was form
erly held by the Dutch in GUIANA" but
simply that she had abandoned the Schom-
berg line as marking the limit OF that ter
ritory.
OTHER OLD PAPERS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Public opinion
in Great Britain has changed in the most
wonderful manner since the Monroe doc
trine was first promulgated. An unex-
pected discovery in the old files of the
house of representatives has given to the
state department a valuable state paper
which Lord Salsbury's claim that the
Monroe doctrine has never been recog-
nized by England will be completely upset.
In going over the old records, Walter HI.
French, the file clerk of the house, discov-
cred a collection of clippings from English
papers, all bearing on the message of
President Monroe, in which he gave to the
world the famous document which bears
his name.
The message was sent on the opening of
congress, the first Monday in December,
1928.
Tie English papers without exception
commented on the message in the most
favorable terms. France was then con-
templating conquest in South America and
Great Britain was prompt to seize on Mon
roe's message as notice to continental ma
tions that conquest in America meant war
with the United States.
-. 3. IL hoe Nod
and sent to Secretary Olney. Members of
the foreign offairs committee say that Mr..
French's discovery is the most important
made in the matter, as it presents cOntem-
porary evidence of the fact which Great
Britain has since forgotten, that at the
time President Monroe's message was de-
livered it was accepted and even welcomed
as sound doctrine by the people of Eng
land More than that, the newspapers
then distinctly pledged Great Britain to aid
in the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine.
RELATIONS TO BE RESUMED.
LONDON, Jan. 13.-It was learned this af-
ternoon that the cabinet council Saturday
considered the question of re-establishing
diplomatic relations with Venezuela, but
no definite conclusion was arrived at. Re-
garding the alleged statement by foreign
officer that Canada had not agreed to the
Bering sea arbitration treaty, the foreign
office today authorized the Associated Press
to say the foreign office never made any
such statement, and adding: 1.-THE matter
is in the way of being entirely settled, and
it is possible within few days Sir Julian
Paunceforte and Secretary Olney will reach
a1bmplete and explicit understanding
GRAHAM DROPS INTO POETRY
LONDON, Jan. 13.-Mr. Frederick Gra-
ham, who is understood to be connected
with the British colonial Office, has sent
the following cablegram to the United
States:
To the Ge neral Manager OF the Associated
Press, New York:
AUSTRALASIA TO HER SISTER COLUMBIA.
Colum bia thou first born child
Sprung from the same dear mOtherland,
When under rule not just or mild,
Compeld for liberty 10 stand.
Twas that stern lesson served tosave
The future OF our common race.
Thenceforth she gave to each new babe
The widest freedom on earth's space.
And you may roam the world ound,
From pole to pole and cline to cline;
True liberty is only found
With that dear tongue OF thine and mine
The blood OF heroes that we share
Was shed in floods to keep us free;
Let US unite and who shall dare
To threat the freedom OF the scar