New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-25
TO SEARCH DUTCH ARCHIVES
THE VENEZUELAN COMMISSION WILL
SEND AN AGENT TO THE HAGUE.
SUBMITTED BY MR.. sCRUGGS. AND
GREAT MASS OF TESTIMONY RE-

GREAT MASS OF TESTIMONY RE-
CEIvED FROM CARACAS
Washington, April A-The Venezuelan Boundary
Commission reassemblei to-day. after recess OF
ten days Its most important business was de-
cision previously fcreshadcwed in these dispatches.
TO send one or more persons to The Hague TO ex-
anime the original Dutch manuscripts relating to
Guiana. No selection OF such agent or agents was
made however. The Commission discussed the ad-
visibility OF sending some one to Madrid to inspect
the Spanish records relating 10 the Venezuelan
possessions but this matter was left In allegiance,
for the reason that Venezuela has submitted
large Number OF certified documents copied from
the Spanish archives, and it may be that these
fully cover the ground mapped out by the Com
mission The Commission will carefully examine
these before giving further consideration to the
question OF sending one OF Its members as an agent
TO the Spanish capital.
An additional mass OF testimony in behalf OF the
Venezuelan claim was filed with the Commission
to-day one series OF documents entitled 'Limetas
de C;uayana" consisted of a compilation by Dr.
setas OF matter published from time to time. but
never before collected IN one volume. Mr. Scrusgs,
the Venezuelan counsel also filed brief. critics.
ing the British Blue Book. voum.nous amount
OF testimony from Caracas was likewise presented
to the Commission
The brief presented by Mr. Scruggs answers the
various contentious OF the British Government as
given in the published Blue Book mainly through
historical notations with comments Of his own.
He mentions the statement OF the Blue Book that
in 1888 Dutch settlements were formed near the
mouth OF the Ornoco." But" says Mr. Scruggs.
sit vas precisely in 1895 that Sir Walter Raleigh
made his first voyage 10 the island OF Trinidad,
and thence through Boco de Navois up the Orinoco
TO the mouth OF the Caroni. He reported that after
first overcoming the Spanish force at Trinidad. he
ascended the great river stated. where he found
the Spaniards had previously traversed the whole
country: that they Uhe Span.ards) had been cruel
70 the Indians; that he made frfenGs OF the IND
ians' and told them he had come TO deliver them
from their Spanish conquerors ana oppressors
And vet 1t Is gravely asserted In the Blue BOOK
that In 1896 the Spaniaris did not then hold any
MARI OF Cuayana; and carefully selected Il Wall
not say garblcj) extract from letter Oh Don
Konue le Monies the Spanish colonial treasurer AT
Curnana, is produced to prove this:
'.Rut even this carefully selected extract proves
lust the contrary. The writer says he had IN
Srilcted Captain Felipe de Santiago. or the Spanish
service to ascend the River Ornoco and arrest
spies and nforrers. and 10 advise the indian
chiefs not 10 admit or receive any foreigners ex-
cent Spanards; that these Instructions were faitn-
fully carried OUT that the only surviving Eng sh-
man had been arrested. and that the Indians were
earned against tie intrusion OF any more foreign.
ers' II the Spanards were not then in actual
nossession OF the lower Ornoco. and In fact OF
me whole OF Western Ciuayana how were they
able to arrest the only fore gners iound tnere ara
10 warn the Indians against similar spies anu III
formers In the future? 80, ,,.., .,os
second chapter considers the boundary ques.
,Ion from the date OF TIE Engl.s acquisition OF
titIe 70 Rritish Guiana. and a third chapter taxes
nm tho later phases OF the case