The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-05
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BRITISH BLUE BOOK
WHAT 1T HAS TO SAY ON THE VEN
EzUELAN CONTROVERSY.
Hints by London Newspapers that
icans-Old Documents Found.

LONDON, March 4-The st. James Ca
zette this afternoon publishes a forecast sr-u-
mary of the British blue book on the Vene-
zuela situation which Is shortly to be is
sued 1t is said to contain extracts from
the archives of Holland from the latter
part of the sixteenth century to the second
decade of the nineteenth century and ex-
tracts from the archives of Spain from Orel-
lana's ascent of the River Amazon, in 1872,
and Martinez's ascent of the Orinoco river
to Diego de Ordaz. down to venezuela's in
dependence in 1890. All the documents in this
connection. it is said, have been ransacked
in order 90 establish the British case.
Against the Venezuelan claim for possession
OF the west bank of the Essequibo. 1t will
be shown, it is said, in overwhelming
strength, that the possession of that bank is
Great Britain's beyond doubt.
The statement of Sir Frederick Pollock,
Corpus professor of Jurisprudence of oxford
University. who has prepared the British
case. Is described by the st. James Gazette
as being remarkable for mastery detail and
skill in collating evidence and for the force
and clearness Of his conclusions. Continu-
ing. the St James Gazette says: THE state
ment shows the Dutch. occupation of the coast
of Guiana UP 10 the mouth of the Orinoco
such possession implying the right of owner
ship to the Hinterland (back country. which
right, 1t is shown. the DuEch exercised in the
sixteenth century. The early Dutch maps
give the northwest boundary as starting
from Barima point and going northwest
ward inland. roughly parallel to the Orinoco
TO the confluence of the Caroni and Orinoco
According to the map which De Idsle pre-
pared for Louis XIV, In 1744, the delimtaton
of the district and the Dutch boundary from
Barima point h Identical with the present
British claims Sr Frederick Pollock proves
that the Spaniards were never established In
Guiana proper until they overran part of
the British territory to the Cuyuni, in 1853
Previously. the extreme Spanish settlement
was ST Thome. This is borne out by the
Dutch map OF lIS. prepared for the assist
ance or the statesmen who were negotiating
the cession of the Dutch colonies in Amer
lea TO Great Britain IL
Sir Frederick Pollock enters into the de-
tails to show that the cession was affected
on this basis: IAN important map printed in
Venice in 1776 and another In 1712 agree with
Pollock establishes a brief question that Hoi-
land vigorously protested whenever the Span-
iards entered the cuyuni valley. that Spain
had no answer to these protests, and that.
any way, she never claimed its ownership
But, the states general twice. I'm 1853 and
1863. demanded reparation for Spanish viola
ton of the Dutch territory on the Cuyuni.
Dutch correspondence is cited asserting own
ershp of the entire watershed of the Esse-
Cuyuni. where the Dutch had gold diggings
and forts. and with whose Indian tribes they
ha1 intercourse Tor loo years. The Spanish
correspondence quoted shows that the gov
ernment rejected the advice of Governor Gu
mana 10 push the Dutch out of Cuyuni. The
government declared that the proposals were
too audacious as they attempted to show
that Guiana was more extensive than was
actually the case case: . The s Dutch archives have
was able to establish an irrefraigble case
for the British ownership of the Cuyuni ba-
as to how far the Dutch held the country
between the Schomburgk lire and the ORR
noco.'
The Chronicle says that the government blue
book on Venezuela will reach Washington on
Saturday and will be distributed here on the
same day. There Is reason TO believe" says
matter is that Lord Salisbury and Secretary
Olney have both made proposals and each has
DECLINED Sl 1.-The the others others proposal"
| Venezuelan blue book. says: THE results
| Of the search through Spanish archives
| are likely TO surprise both the United
| date OF the first Spanish settlement on The
| Orinoco as late as 1896. and was made
| OF one Gueaterral. who had been surveying
| the region and had promised 10 return AMI
settle there. 1t is proved that Gueaterral
| prise for Venezuela. without doubt. will be
| the publication OF the secret papers expos !.
Ing the intrigue between Spain and Portu-
from Guiana or hemming them in on the
seashore. Ii the Dutch were not in possess
! them? THE British case sets up claim
| by the conquest OF both the Spanish and
/ Dutch colonies before Venezuela came into
| existence. and, although Holland by the
| convention of 1914. ceded her possessions 10
| us. there was, according to the British
| case. no real cesslon, because the colony
was ours already. Upon this part OF the
/ case-a very strong one-the government
mainly relies. 1t dimi-ishes the Importance
| lSi0 and shows tb1I Lord Salisbury occupies
| a strong historical position"
The Daily News prints a letter from the
| Earl Of Rosebery, late Liberal Prime Min
&ster. which should have been read at