Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-14
SCHOMBURGKLINE
Document That Bears on the
Venezuela Dispute.
SOFT OF MISSING LINK PRINTED.

Letter mat " III BE Antefprete0 AccoF01n8
to the Standpoint Of the Reader-Aber.
Teens Note to the Venezuelan Representa-
live Regarding the Removal Of Schom-
burgk's Marks-London Papers Inclined
To He Happy Over the Situation.
LONDON. Jan. 1i.-[Copyrg GIFTED by the
Associated Press, 1895. THE Associated
Press is enabled to transmit to Ameri.
can readers an important document
bearing upon the Venezuela question,
namely, the texs of letter from
Lord Aberdeen, thu then British secre-
tary for foreign affairs, to NJ. Fostique,
who at that time represented Venezuela
in London, which was written at the time
the posts which had been set to mark tho
Schomburgk line were removed in COM
pliance with the protest of Venezuela.
This letter will doubtless be given O con.
spicuous part in the forthcoming blue
book, as it is known that the government
attaches much Importance to it. While 1t
is admitted that in a letter dated March
81, 1874, Lord Aberdeen stated that in re-
moving the posts Great Britain had not
coded any rights, it WAS contended that
no document was in existence max
ing any such contention AZ the time
Great Britain had ordered the removal,
and that the removal was tacit admis.
sion that the Schomburgk line was
wrong.
Agrees to Remove the Marks.
Following is the letter, the authenticity
OF which is unquestionable. 1t is dated
Foreign Office, Jan. 81, 1912:
''The undersigned has the honor to &c
knowledge receipt OF a note addressed to
him on the 10th inst. by Monsieur Fos-
tiquc, representing the alarm and excite
ment which has been created in Venezuela
on account of the marks fixed by Mr..
Schomburgk at different points in his
survey near the mouth of the Orinoco.
and renewing his request that her mai
csty's government will order the removal
of these marks. The undersigned begs to
inform Monsieur Fostique in reply that,
in order to meet tho wishes of the govern
ment Of Venezuela. her majesty's govern
ment will send instructions to the COVER
nor OF British Guiana directing him to re-
move the posts which have been placed by
Mr.. Schomburgk near the Orinoco.
Saving Clause in the Document.
"But the undersigned feels it his duty
to distinctly declars to Monsieur Fostique
that although, in order to put an end TO
the apprehension which appears to prevail
in Venezuela with regard to the object of
Mr.. Schomburgk's survey, the under
signed has consented to comply with the
renewed representations of NJ. Fostique
upon this affair, her majcsty's govern
ment must not be understood to abandon
any portion of the right Of Great Britain
over the territory which was formerly
held by the Dutch in Guiana This is
signed Aberdeen
This letter is regarded here as an answer
to the contentious of Henry Norman,
special commissioner of The Chronicle
who first gave the English public through
his paper documents which seemed to in
validate the claim of the Schomburgk
line as q true boundary line.
Something To BE Observed.
But 1t is to be observed that Norman,
aud the Venezuelan government also,
have not claimed that in removing tho
boundary posts Great Britain abandoned
any portion Of her rights ''over the terri.
tory which was formerly held by he
Dutch in Guiana" but simply that sho
had abandoned the Schomburgk line as
marking the limit Of that territory.