New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-21
BRITISH GUIANESE Worried.
THEY SEND AN URGENT PETITION To
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE BOUNDARY DIS
PUTE SETTLED At oNcE-rRoPERrY IN
TEREsTs OF THE CoIoNIsTs


Georgetown. Dcmerara. British Guiana, April
30-At last the colonsts of British Guiana have
been moved 10 take an active part in the nego-
tlatlons now pending for n settlement OF the
boundary dispute with Venezuela. \ report has
been In circulation here FOR a day or two that
there is little prospect Of Great Britain being
able 10 sustain the claim put forward by her to
the territory west u the River Morocco To the
Amncura. at the entrance T. the Orlnoco. what
"a AZ present known as the Northwest District
u British Guiana. And what lends color 10 the
report IL that the Government has within the
last few days suspended operations On the work
OF constructing the proposed road from the Esse-
quibo 70 Yuruan Post II has also become gen
orally known In this colony that. acting on In
struc,lons from London. some OF the largest
syndicatcs operating mines on the Barma River
have suspended operations. and have shut
down" TIL the boundary question Is finally set
tied.
The British Guanese now seem to realize. and
that for the first time that there is possibility
~ their losing the valuable mining properties In
the basin Of the Barima. Barama and Waini
rivers With the result that there Is now more
real alarm among the coonists than there was
during the war scare toward the end of last
year At that time they confidently accepted the
the Imperial authorities prepared to assert
the territorial rights OF the Colony. even by force
Of arms II need be- and after the local Legis-
lature had voted an open check for this pur-
pose they simply looked on with an air Of in
difference But now that OF security has
given way TO a general feeling OF insecurity and
uncertainty and the colonsts have decided 10
have their views on the subject made known at
headquarters In London.
Accordingly. the following memorial has been
prepared and is being extensively and intu-
entay signed In the colony:
To the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Her
Majestys Secretary OF State for the Colonies,
NJ. T., etc:
itants OF the Colony of British Guiana venture
to address and lay before you our views on
matter which seems 10 us OF great Importance.
Ii has been stated 10 our dlscredit, by portion
Of the European press and by private individuals,
that we. as the inhabitants OF the colony. have
ohown little interest In the question Of the bound
AIRY between British Guiana and the Republic Of
Venezuela.
We venture to urge. and 1t is well known to
you. sir that this IS not the case. and the action
OF our representatives, in the Combined Court,
when they voted an open check" to defray any
expenses that might be necessary In connection
with the defence OF the boundary. is a proof that
we are ready and willing to do anything that Is
required
That we have not urged our views on Her Maj
eStyS Government Is not from any want or IN
terest In the question. but simply because. since
you came into Office, we have had the utmost con-
fdcnce. both In yourself and Her Majestys other
principal officer of state. that everything which
could possibly be done would be done to
the just and legal rights to the land under dispe.
We still have unbounded confidence In the wis
dom. integrity and justice Of Her Majestys pres
ent Government. but We venture with the great
cot respect to place before you some facts to
show how deeply interested the inhabitants OF
the colony are in the country In question:
That since the gold industry first became prac-
tically established. the Colony of British Guiana
has spent the large sum of S3j64l In establish
Ing the Government agency, magistrates police
stations. police, gold officers. commissaries and
other machinery Of government.
That private enterprise has established large
mining districts with population estimated at
$4,000 persons. Direct steam communication has
been made from Georgetown TO the rivers Barima
and Amacura. short railways are In course of con-
sruction connecting the rivers with the minee;
depots for stores shops. and mining machinery
are erected and are In course OF erection. with an
early probability OF commencement OF work, the
cost or which has been borne mainly by the pri-
vate purses OF the Inhabitants
That the total output OF gold to date. derived
from placer working. from the colony has been
71o,590 ounces. valued at $13 $4,000 and II has
been affirmed by experts that large and ex-
trennely valuable quartz reefs exist In the mining