Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-22
English Concession.
tBoston Transcript)

>
The tenor OF London dispatches is
growing more and more favorable to
| settlement of the Venezuelan casa on
basis satisfactory to American septi
ment and in harmony with the nosi-
| ton of the United States government
Though a few Weeks ago some nortion
| of the press of the country criticised
| the Venezuelan brief submitted by Mr.
j. J. Storrow of this city 10 thA oon,
| mission and the British co,,nce, DC
| claiming too much and DENYING too
:nuch,it seems, nevertheless. to have b,d
| It's effect in tending to remove ona nf
the strongest obstacles in the wav Of
| an amicable agreement. The brief
| maintained that the Shomburek line
Whlch was the original boundary
| CANNED, had been altered in 1856 to meet
| new designs Upon Venezuelan territory.
| that Whereas. up to that time it had
| pe:-l straight line across the Cuyuni
I thereafter 1t was made to follow the
| great Cuyuni bend which meant a
| much more comprehensive acquisition.
and this change was entirely arbitrary
| and had no authority of the Schom-
burgk survey to rest upon. How much
| u siiiso vial i''iHA WIN w 'olttutu
there is as yet nothing to indicate.
Probably the British position will not
| be yielded without considerable pre-
limnary skirmishing to keep up APP
pearances, if for no other purpose. but
as it is matter that ought to be en-
tirely n question OF evidence, it need
| not give the commission or the country
| as much concern AS another feature of
| the case might have done, but which
now seems likely TO be eliminated by
| British concession.
Lord Salisbury has sternly insisted
from the first that the rights of Eng
| fish colOnists in the disputed territory
must be protected, but those rights.
vested and otherwise, In the light of
Mr. Storrow's brief did not seem as for
midable as when abstractly presented
| The coloniSts did not settle there for
homes but to acquire gain. They
had made no valuable permanent
improvements but merely temporary
| ones such az We're necessary
to the conduct of their operations
Their investments had been re-
| turned to them several times over. so
that even if they had to Vacatc with
out any further consideration they We're
| gamers instead of losers. The latest
dispatches indicate that on this impor-
| tant point Lord Salisbury has finally
| yielded to Mr.. Olney whose opinion
has all along been in harmony with
| Mr.. StorrOW'S pronOuncement.
This concession, however. is accom-
panied by the suggestion that the colo
nists be reimbursed for the improve
ments they have made though the
source from which payment is To come
is net indicated. If they have improve
ments of any considerable value the
| market price ought to sufficiently re-
coup them. and the terms Of settle
ment. the main point being overcome,
| should be easily arranged. This viii
cover the question of protection to
| British subjects and be no let down in
| the policy of paternal care which it is
the pride and boast of the British gov
| eminent always to exercise. and it is
long step toward a practical and a
permanent reconciliation of differ
ences. When they are all adjusted we
shall understand each other better than
WE did before