The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-01-15

recognize that fofclble occupation gives
| Great Britain any title to territory cIaimed
by Venezuela, whether west or cost OF the
arbitrary Schomburgk line, and insists
tnat the legitimate ownership Of the terri
| tory, lin It's entirety, can be decided only
BY arbitration on tho basis OF Historical
fact"
All considerations OF historical fact In
the Venezuelan controversy hinge upon
one simple question, What were, respco-
lively, the geographical limits Of the Vene-
zuelan republic when 1t declared its indie
pendenoe of Spain In 1910 and OF British
Guiana when England acquired that cod.
ony by treaty from Holland in 1912
There is no other question involved, for
England has not since 1914 added one foot
Of territory to her original british Guiana
colony BY any process which can come
within tho cognisaDce Of tho laws Of ma
tions.
From 1914 to 1s4l England lseve1 inti-
mated In tho slightest manner that she
doomed herself entitled to any impe .tant
portion Of tho Atlantic const west Of the
Essequibo river. Most interesting and
valuable evidence Is afforded by long
note written on Mny 90. 1885, by Sir Rob
ert ker Porter. British charge 'afraires at
Caracas, to tho Venezuelan authorities,
petitioning thcm with great carnestness
10 eteos a lighthouse ut Point Barima and
otherwise provide for safer navigation at
the grand mouth Of the Orinoco Mr..
Porter thus conceded that Point Rarima
and the Orinooo mouth were exclusively
within the jurisdiction Of the Venezuelan
government, and tho British foreign offioe
mover took occasion to rcpudlnte his action
In that matter until some 20 years htsr,
after 1t had become the fixed policy Of the
London cabinet to hold Point Barina and
the mouth Of she Orlnooo by force Of arms
and without admitting arbitration.
Origin Of the BoLombu1gk Line.
The Schomhurgk line, with Its initial
point at the center Of the Orlnoco mouth,
was traced In lS4l by Sir Robert Sohom-
busgk, an English engineer. In surveying
II no acted entirely in the interests Of tho
British governments and without the oot,-
sent Or even the knowledgeOf VenezualA
Great excitement was Occasioned In the r.
public when it became known what
Schomburgk had done, and that he bad
set up posts to Indicate British dominion.
A prompt remonstrance wns made and
Lord Aburdeen, who was thcn primo min
lister OF England, answered, On Deo. II,
lS4l. that the marks placed by Mr.. Sohom.
be had surveyed were simply n preliminary
step, subject to future discussion between
the two governments: that they we1s the
only tangible means Of preparing to dis.
ouss the question of limits with the GOV.
ern1nent OF Venezuela; that they were
placed with that express object and not,
as tho government OF Venezuela seemed
to fear 1t, with the intention Of indicating
dominion or empire on the part Of Great
Britain. Soon afte ward Lord Aberdeen
ordered that all Of Sohomburgk's posts
should be removed.
Three years later (ls44) Lord Aberdeen
voluntarily proposed to Senior Forteque,
Venezuelan pienipotentiary In England, .
boundary line beginning on, the coast at
the mouth Of the river Morocco, which
emp.ies into the ocean some distance 20
| the westward Of the Essequibo.
On Nov. II, 1880, Mr.. Bedford Hinton
Wilson, charge 'affairos Of Great Britain
In Venezuela, sent to the Venezuelan gov
ernment note specifically contradicting
q ruinor that England intended claiming
Venezuelan Guiana and adding: "The
Venezuelan government In justice to Great
Britain cannot mistsust for moment the
sincerity Of the formal declaration which
Is now made In the name and by the OK.
press order Of hor msjesty's governments
that GHeat Britain has no Intention to &C.
cupy OF encrm,ch upon the territory in dis
pnte. Therefore tho Venezuelan govern
ment, In an equal spirit Of good faith anl
! Friendship. cannnt refuse to make sin