The herald., 1896-01-09
ENGLISH COLONIAL OFFICE
A Distinguished Member Now In
Los Angeles Talks
THE DIPLOMATS OPINION
The Honorable Gentleman Discusses the
Venezuelan Question
THE DIPLOMATS OPINION
Thinks That the Boundary Dispute VIII b.
AmicsbIy Settled Without Outside Inter
ference-Goid Mines at Stake

A distinguished member of the English
colonial office staff, who is on fIrlough,
and seeking recuperation in Southern Cali
fornia after nearly twenty-five years con-
'inuous service, said to an old college chum
whom he found in this city:
" have been for years longing to get
away and have a real gond rest. The
various European resorts had become ut
terly distasteful to me. wanted to see the
United States, and in leisurely travel, eX-
pend the best part of my brief furlough in
studying this wonderful republic and her
people. l must say that since | landed at
San francisco on tho steamer from Homo
lulu have not had a dull day; everything
is 30 new, so unexpected, and since have
been in outhern California my daughters
have had no consideration for my advanc-
ing years, so wild are they over The beau
ties which they wish to enjoy with me.
And to tell you the truth ] feel already so
much benefit from my vi,it ard suppose
show it so plainly. that the girls laulh at
me when attempt to plead the ordinary
excuses nf an invalid.
In reply to q question as to the diplo-
mats opinion on the two questions that
Tor the moment ruille the serenity of dip
Iona ic relations between Great Britain,
the United Sta es and Germany, lie. the
Ven zuela boundary dispute and tine
some hesitation, 'In any hing I may say
on these important matters you will of
course recognize the opinion, the indi vid-
ual opinion, of an obscure member of her
majesty's service and not in any sense as
an official or seIni-oilicial utterance. First.
as to the Venezuela boundary dispute. No
English statesman, as far as am aware,
has expressed any antagonism to the prin-
ciple of the Monroe doctrine. The crux is
whether it is applicable to the settlement
of a long vexed boundary dispute between
two friendly nations, one of whom acquired
undisputed territory, and a large and valrl-
able underlined one. by cessiotl, long prior
to the time when the Monroe doctrine was
an integral part of American polity.
have not much doub. but that the matter
wilt be amirably settled between Great
Britain and Venezuela without outside in
reference. even if it should result in the
relinquishme 1t of part of the territory now
claimed as being part of British Guiana. In
spite of the great area of this colony. in
cluding as does the set lements of d. me-
rara, Essequibo and Berbce. embracing a
al area of 100, 900 square miles and
seaboard of over 800 miles, and with pop
ulation of close on to 10000, most of
whom are emigrants from the Eas Indies,
the colony is heavily in debt. The public
revenue in 1S93-4 was, however, some-
what in excess of eXpendi ure of about
$50O,OO0 / think. The cost of the govern
Inent is heavy NEARLY 81 ,75O.O10 annually.
The country is rich in gold. In 1S94-5 the
returns amounted to two and a half mil
lions of dollars. About $4,000 laborers
are engaged in the gold fields of the colony.
have no, been there for some years, but
these figures are alb ,ut right. The country
reminds one of Holland, being below sea
level and with IA system of dykes construct
ed by he former Dutch owners. The
climate is dsagreeable in The extreme.
Tue temperature ranges from 75 degrees
10 80 degrees Fahr. The chief product is
sug AZ, but good coffee is grown; the lead
sugar and gold. 1t happens that the dis
puted boundary affects the owners hip of
valuable gold mines hitherto known as the
Venezuela mines. There are only two cities
in the country. Georgetown with popula-
ton of about 55 900 and New Amsterdam
with one OF about 1900.