The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-03
THE SCHOMBURG LINE.
An EnElishman Admits 1t Is Worth
less as a Basis for Territorial Claim.

LONDON, Jan. 3-The special CORE
spondent Of the Chronicle at Caracas tele-
graphs to his paper this morning the Off
cial correspondence hitherto unpublished
between the governments of Great Britain
and Venezuela during the period between
November, 1S40 when Sir Robert Schom-
burg was appointed commissioner by the
British government to survey the western
territory Of British Guiana, and April, 1912,
when England finally removed the boundary
posts which he had set at various points
in that territory to form the so-called
Schomburg line.
1t appears from the correspondence that
on Oct. 5, 1S41, Senior Fortique, Venezuelan
minister to London, wrote to Lord Aber-
deem, Secretary of State for Foreign Af-
fairs, expressing surprise at the erection
Of British sentry box upon Venezuelan
territory, and urging the necessity of en-
tering upon a treaty of boundaries as a
previous step to the fixation Of limits. Lord
Aberdeen replied to this on Oct. q, saying
that he had received Mr.. Robert Schofn-
burg's report. ut appears" Lord Aber-
deem continued. that Mr.. Robert Schom-
burg planted the boundary posts at certain
points in the country he surveyed, and that
he was fully aware that the demarkation
so made was merely a preliminary measure
open to future discussion between the gov
ernments of Great Britain and Venezuela
But it does not appear that Mr. Schomburg
left behind any guardhouse. or sentry, or
building bearing the British flag"
Senior Fortique replied to this Nov. 49, as
sorting that Mr. Schomburg doubtless over
stepped his instructions by planting at
point at the mouth Of the Orinoco several
posts bearing the Queens initials, and he
mas raised the British flag at the same
place with a show OF armed force. He has
also performed several other acts of domin-
.on ana government senior Fortique re-
ninoS Lord Aberdeen that Venezuela had
received no answer TO her proposal to ar
bitrate the boundaries before AIR. Schom-
burg started, ana that by an act of ex-
IRENE courtesy to the British government
Mr. Schomburg mad not been torclDly ex-
PEELED. NO reply being received, senior For
.Ique again. on Dec. g.. addressed Lord
Aberdeen, insisting upon the conclusion of
treaty or the removal of Mr.. SchomDurg's
posts. protesting against the delay, and
quoting promise mace by the Governor OF
british Guiana to two Venezuelan commits
sioners that no forts should be erected or
troops sent into the disputed territory.
Lord Aberdeen broke the silence on Dec.
H. confirming the Schomburg line as a mere
preliminary measure, ana oDjecting to the
removal of the posts. (which aIord the
only tangible means by which Great Britain
is prepared to discuss the boundaries" He
continues: These posts were erected for
that purpose, and not, as the Venezuelan
government appears TO apprehend, as ind-
cations of dominion and empire on the part
OF Great Britain" Senior Fortique, on Jan
10, regrets that he is obliged again 10 insist
upon the removal Of the posts, and he pre-
diets that their nonremoval would give rise
10 disorders He points to the example of
Venezuela and the United States OF Colom-
bia which first made a boundary treaty
and then delimited the territory
The Chronicles correspondent in his dis
patch then quotes Lord Salisbury's dispatch
TO Secretary Olrey to the effect that these
posts were removed on the distinct under
standing that Great Britain did not thereby
abandon her claim to that position, and in
this connection he gives two documents
from the Governor OF British Guiana.
dated Demerara. March 9. 1872. and one
from Mr.. O'Leary, British consul at Cara
cas-, dated April 8. 1872 both expressing the
hope that all ground Of remonstrance will
be removed by Great Britain's concessions
OF the removal of MIR. Schomburgs land
marks from Barima and elsewhere The
Chronicles correspondent then continues as
follows: Observe that there is no word
indicating the condition asserted by Lord
Salisbury. II the foregoing documents are
genuine, and their source excludes any sus-