The morning times., 1896-06-25
.EAGLAnD SEEKS OUR AID
Will Ask Olney 10 Secure Sur
\ veyor Harris0n's Release.
SURPRISE ITO OFFICIALS
She Recognizes the United States as
Party In Interest and Fails TO
Resort to the Uitimatum Policy.
Sir ,Juiian to Present the Request
Today II Oiney Returns.

AS soon as Secretary OlGey returns to
the State Department. and he is c. tnfideutly
expected today, he will receive from Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador,
| q request from the British government TO
use his good offices with Venezuela To
| secure the release from Imprisonment of
Crown Surveyo Harrison. who is reported
to have been arrested by Venezuelan police
While he was engaged i'll constructing a
read connecting the Burma and Cuyuni
Rivers, iii the disputed territory.
This action Of Great Britain is considered
in diplomatic circles radical departure
from the uitimatum methods hitherto
practiced oil American republics. and much
slgniflcance is attached to this fact, as
probably indicating the considerable prog
ress made toward an arbitration agree
| ment and the practical acknowledgment
that the United States is a Earty in inter
| est in tie Venezuelan dispute as well as
in future controversies regarding terri
tory OH the American continent.
FIXING THE BLAME.
While it is universally admitted that the
new incident is exceedingly Unfortunate
lust at this 1urcture, there is great di-
verslty or opinion in fixing the blame.
Even the British government has the most
where the arrest took place, although it
is claimed that the surveying party had
no authority to go outside the territory
occupied exclusively by Englishmeu for
the past ten years.
No official knowledge of the arrest has
yet been received atthe Venezuelan n legation
where confidence Is expressed that the
Venezuelan government would have sent
notice OF the affair. perhaps for the in
inn nH tfa. Unit ~ tnf.s
ment, the moment the facts became known
at Caracas.
The Venezuelans, however, find con-
siderable satisfaction in the Information
that Great Britain viii appeal To Secretary
Ulney in the matter indicating that it is
not considered of So serious a nature as at
first apprehended.
BLAME 1T on CHAMBERLAIN.
They place the whole blame for what
ever has occurred on Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain's ggressive colonial policy. They point
to the fact that under date of December
10. 1894, they complained to Secretary
Gresham of the proposed road upon which
Surveyor Harrison. was employed, and
called attention to the fact that as the
route lay in yenezpelan territory a con-
flict would be unavoidable.
One para graph OF that letter reads:
THE presence OF the persistence OF the
British governmentIin eXcladiug from arbi-
tratiOn 3ll that portion OF the territory
which it has held for years rendered the
action OF the last commissioner OF VeE-.-
zuela to England null and void: rendered in
efficacious the good intentions OF the ex-
ecutive OF the republic, and stimulated tfe
ambition OF certain agents OF the colony
who have In view nothing but the pleasing
prospect presented. by territory exceed
ingly rich in natural resources.
Some of item ON october ~ last pro-
cured the introduction in the legislative
cbamher of remerara of proposition
looking to tue construction OF road
which is TO unite the upper Barima with
the CuyuDi. which involves fresh project
for the upla wful appropriations of Nene-
Zuelan territory. and the manifest ten
d,pcy of Which is to increase tie diff
Guilty of reaching peaceful settlement OF
tue controversy.
REQUESTED \ PoSTPONEMENT.
'The secretary of the government re-
quests that the proposition Should be post
poped until lie could consult the colonial
depa rtnent, and what is stiil more IN
portaut. obtained its approval OF an appii-
cation for power to raise large loan
from W Inch could be taken the amuult
necessary 10 open tue proposed road. the
government or Venezuela. through It's
consul at Dcmerara. advised the gorernUi
of tie colony that the execution OF the
project would undoubtedly bring almost
collision with the Venezuelan authorities
in that region and would be the cause of
further embitteTing controversy which
il is important to both parties to put on
a more friendly footing.'
This appeal was effective for the time
being The road was abandoned until in
August last year, the Secretary OF state
for the Colonies. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
sent to British Guiana his call for the
colony to raise funds for machine guns and
Increased police force and the construction
of the Barima road. This was resisted by
the colonial legislature, with the excep-
tiou of defense armament, until the arrival
OF the new governor from England few
months ago when they were induced to
appropriate for a survey of the road.
ENGLAND WAS WARNED.
yeuezuelans now claim that the respon-
sibiIity rests wholly with Great Britain.
after the warning that went to the Foreign
Office through colonial as well as through
United States channels. 1t is contended
at the legation here that the Venezuelan
authorities who made the arrests must OF
necessity have been in their own territory,
as they are not permitted to cross the
frontier under any circumstances.
The two English ports are on the right
bank Of the Cuyuni and the left bank or
the Amarura Those of Venezuela are di-
rectiy opposite them, and this statu quo
hasbccp ri igidly observed by the V Venezuelass.
In their opinion Harrison must have been
arrested within the Venezuelan line, and
only after warning to keep out. The
Venczuelaps, to u man. are also aware that
they have everything TO gain by peaoefs
methods. and it S incredible to their
friends here that they could have so dis
obcycd orders as to break the statu quo
II is said, however, that If Secretary Oipey
calls on Venezuela in response to Great
Rr;aip's request. that fun report of the
affair will undoubtedly be forthcoming as
soon as the Caracas authorities can in
vestigate. l.el