The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-20
GUIANA IN THE FIGHT.
Colonists. Want Great Britain
to Oppose Venezuela
Right or Wrong.
Especial correspondence Of the United
Press.)

GEORGETOWN, Demerara, British
Guiana, April 80, 1886 last the colon
lists Of British Guiana have been moved
to take an active part in the negotiations
now pending for a settlement of the
boundary dispute with Venezuela.
report has been in circulation here
Tor the past day or two that there is
little prospect OF Great Britain being
able to sustain the claim put forward by
her to the territory west Of the River
Morlca to the Amacura, at the entrance
70 the Orinoco, and what is at present
known as the Northwest District of Brit
ish Guiana. And what lends color to the
report IS tlaJ the Government has within
the past few days suspended operations
with bne work of constructing the pro-
posed road from the Essequibo to Uruan
post It has also become generally known
IN TINS colony that, acting on Instructions
from London, some of the largest syndi-
Gates operating mines on the Parma
River has suspended operations and have
smut down" till the boundary question
is finally settled.
The British Guianese now seem to real
ize, and that for the first time. that there
is q possibility of their losing the val
lapie mining properties in the basin. of
tne Banlfna, Barana and Waini Rivers
with the result that there is now more
was during the war scare towards the
end of last year. At5that time tiley con-
ndently ilsgsaI accepted the pledges Of the Act
ing Governor of the colony that the i'm
perialt authorities were prepared to assaTt
the territorial rights of the colony, even
by force of arms if need be. and after
dRe Il 10; local LEGISLATURE had voted an open
cheek for this purpose they simply
looked on with an air of indifference. But
now that sense of security has given
way to a general feeling of insecurity
decided to have their views on the sIb
London.
Accordingly the following memorial has
peena prepared and is being extensively
ana lrf1uentially signed in the colony:-
70 the Right Honorable Joseph Cham
eerlain Her Majesty's Secretary of
stare for the Colonies NJ p etc -
We, the undersigned memorialists and
lnhabitants Of the colony of British
Guiana.: 1s venture to address and lay before
y you our views on matter which seems
60 US or great Importance.
1t has been stated to our discredit by
portion of the European press and by
private a j 4ndividuals that We as the inha'b-
terest IN the question of the boundary
between British Guiana and the Republic
OF Venezuela.
We venture to urge, and it is well
known to you, sir, that this is not the
case, and the action of our represenfa
llat. llves IN the combined court when they
VQleG an open check to defray any ex-
penses that might be necessary in con-
nectlon with the defense of the boundary,
y y proof that We are ready and willing
ID 40 anything that is required.
sThat we have not urged sour views on
Her lMaJesty's Government is not from
any want OF interest in the question, but
Srihply% because, since you came into Of
Ice we have had the utmost confidence
DoIn N Yourself and Her Majesty's other
prtlnrelpaI officers Of state. that everything
which could possibly pe done would be
gone, TO secure the just and legal rights
to the land under dispute
we still nave unbounded confidence in
Ine WlSdom, integrity and justice of Her
Ma1esty's present Government but We
venture with the greatest respect to place
nelore Eodp some son facts to show how deeply
are IN the country in question
Ihat since the gold industry first be-
ca eare e ,pEactiealy established the colony
sum Of s3oS,47O in establishing the Govern
ment 7l agency. magistrates, police stations.
police. gold officers, comlnissaries and
ether lata machinery of government
That private enterprise has established
estimated at 1900 persons Direct steam
Georgetown to the rivers Barima and md
Amacufa, shore railways are in course
9I construction, connecting the rivers
and mining machinery are erected and, a,e re-
n course OF erection, with an early pron-
aoility aoat OF cqmmeneement OF work, Atfe
cost OF which has been borne mainly nv
the private purses of the inhabitants
THAT the total output of gold to date.
aerlved served from placer Working, from the
at $lS185, ,000 and 1t has been affirmed Nv
experts that large and extremely val
1l;ao naple ol.3 quartz reefs exist in the mining
waiting for capital to feveIon fhan, o'is
lhat we are also in possession of
facts which enable US to state that a
large "a g. addition Of English and foreign
mining industry of this country is the
poandary S.s,,,s Sc question is finally settled.
Of ta lmpoTtatlon sti, Of this capital is
and we anticipate that not only would
me e mining industry of the colony bene-
n fbs y the influx Of money but that
agricultural pursuits which. owing to tbe
difficulty of communication with the in
terror, !J, have hitherto been neglected.
called by. ignorant persons a swamn
This might be the right term to appiy
To-, TO some s2 OF the lands near the coast,
nfgher up the rivers, which is linduiaf
ing hilly country, containing hesiS9es
annta mlneras ny 5a splepdid did, timber natural
capable OF bearing all the tropical pro.
ducts OF South America, such as COFFEE.
eocoa, eoo - topsacco, 60 tobacco and many other
a "a
can be described as healthy.
Your memorialists, with no des;ra ~
nel,y unnauiy press on Her Majesty's principal
ADVISERS, or IN any way interfere with
1ne1r action, humbly pray that everv en-
ueaVor may be made to arrive at an
early settlement of this all important
question; at the same time thew wtaIId
urge that no part of the colony be giyes,
up which England holds under treaty
ana settlement, and to which we are
legally and justly entitled
lIle memorial has been entrusted ~
Mr. Frederick Cavendish Boyle. lateiv
acting Governor of the colony ph9o
leaves teaves Tor London by, Royal Mail steamer
Chamberlain without delay. y MI e
Information was received here some 7avs
ago from Cayenne, French Guiana that a
number OF convicts had esca ped from tba
penal settlement in the French colony
ana the request was made Iaat 4 watc1
be kept for the runAways.
~ .lhe 5tn INST. the Passenger steamer
trading between ttfs port and the ncrtb
west District arrived here with ten Of The
escaped convicts on board and also 4 war
der belonging to the Eraacfl PENAL set
tiement. It was searnsd that fifteen
others OF the convic.s had landed o1 fne
east bank of the Orinoco and Immediately
pushed into the interior ofsthe province
The details of the occurrence al rennrt-
ed by a seaman who was at first arrested
with the convictS are to the effect fhar
the French schooner Belta left CAYENNE
With p convicts on board in charge of one
Warder armed with a revolver, and ii full
cargo of stores for the penal settlement
capital of the French colony 5of April II
On the 18th, the convicts turned upon the
warder and the crews Of the MschooY1er
overpowered them, placed them IN irons