The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-01-08
SOME OF THE WHY'S
Inside History Of British Cabinet Pro-
credinas In lSlO.
REFUTEs LORD SALISBURY
Great Wealth Of the country Temptation
20 Make EHhorbitsnt Claims 10 Hope
Fart Would Stick

sp, elal 10 the Astorian.
Washington, Jan. Tilt has been learn
cd that tho officials OF the state depart
msnt have recently made discovery OF
importance which throws new doeumen'
tary Hight on tho British contention oil
ownership west OF the Bchomburgk line,
and Lord SaiiHbury's refusal 20 agree "a
arbitration east OF that line
In the opinion OF those officials who are
engaged IN studying the various phases
0f the controversy. this official document
demonstrates that England had no idea
OF claiming large part OF Venezuela
unill schomburgk'a scientific explorations
nsd disclosed the great wealth OF the re-
glon. ard that she then determined 10
make exorhitant cialmh, trusting that
part ot them at least would stick IL II
also tho opinion OF these officers that
the document nulliaez large part OF
saiisburya reply 10 olney by Hhoylng
that the English premier has not been
entirely disingenuouH In his relation OF
matters In fact
The newly discovered document con.
sls,a OF letter from Vlneount Loyoson
mf,rrward Earl GRANVILLE British under
sc, etnry OF state for foreign anairr. TO
Sir James stephen. permanent under see
rotary for the colonies, written under
Instructions from Lord paimcrRton. sec
rotary Of foreign aifairs, for the guidance
Of Lord John Russell. secretary OF war
and colonies This important letter shows
exactly what went on inside the British
cabinet at the time
II will 10 remembered that schomburEk
had been sent out by the Royal Geo
graphical Society In iS1S. with funds sup
piled by the government. TO explore the
orinoco country. and that on his return
TO England In iSsa. and apparently as
result OF his familiarity with the re-.
sources of that country. tho government
chose him na the most available person
to select the richest territory In Guiana,
which would. naturally. constitute Eng
lands share In any subsequent division
Tho note Ia as follows:
Foreign once. March is 1870.
Sir-i am directed by Viscount Palmer
ston to acknowledge the receipt Of your
letter OF the 9Th inst. enclosing copies
and extracts Of dispatches and their en-
closures from Mr.. Light. aovornor Of
Hritish Guiana. rcaltivc TO the expedioncy
Of an arrangement being made with the
brazilian. Venezuelan and Nctheriand
governments, by which tho boundaries OF
british Guiana may be accurately de-
lined
With reference TO that part OF your
letter In which you state that Lord Rus
soil considers II TO be important that the
boundaries OF British Guiana should be
asccrtainod and agreed upon. II possible,
and that Mr.. SchomburRk's researches
In those parts. have qualified him In a
peculiar manner To be OF use. and should
the services OF any person acquainted
with the geography OF British Guiana be
required for nxing the boundaries OF the
British territory. | am TO state 10 you
that the course OF proceeding which Lord
Paimcrston would suggest for the con-
Sidcratlon OF Lord John Russell II that
a map OF British Guiana should be made
out according TO the boundaries descrih-
ed by Mr. Schomburgk that the said
map should be accompanied by n memoir
describing In detail the natural features
which donnc and constitute the bounda-
rics In question. and that copies OF that
map and memoir should be delivered TO
the governments OF Venezuela. OF Brazil.
and Of tho Netherlands. as a statement
OF the British claim. That In the mean.
while British commissioners should he
sent to erect landmarks on tho ground
In orier TO mark out by permanent cree
tions the line OF boundary 80 claimed by
Great Britain.
three governments above mentioned to
make any objection which they might
have TO bring forward against these
boundaries. and TO state the reasons upon
which such obiectiors might be founded.
and Her Majesty's government woulo
then give such answers thereto as might
appear proper and just.
Lord Pa'merston further considers thar
II would be expedlent that the BRAZIL
ian detachment should be required TO
withdraw from Plaza, and that the officer
In command should be informed tha,
any claim which Brazil may imagine
itself to have TO that village should be
stated by the Brazilian government to
that OF Great Britain. in order that Il
may be discussed and settled between
the two governments. ] have. etc,
(Slgne0 LEVESON.
To James stephen, Esq.
In reference 10 the last paragraph, Il
may be stated that Brazil did withdraw
from Piara, and that the southern boun.
dairy OF British Guiana has now advanced
more than hundred miles beyond that
point.