New-York tribune., 1896-01-03
4 BRITISH BICKDOWN.
THE CHRONICLE" REVISES IT'S VIEW OF
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION.

OfFit IAi CORRESIDNDENCE OF 1880 ~ PROVES
THE scHoMBURGK LINE WORTHLESS AS a
BASIS OF ANY TERRITORIAL CLAIM
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LORD
sATLsBlRys SECOND DIS
PATCH TO MR.. oLNEy.
London, Jan "A special representative OF
The Daily Chronicle who is now in Washing
:on telegraphs to that papor that he has obtained
from a source which he is pledged not to reveal
the official unpublished correspondence ex-
changed by Great Britain and Venezuela between
November. 1870 when Sir Robert Sch)m6urgk
was appointed 10 dellmlt the frontier OF British
Guiana and April. 1912. when England removed
the boundary posts set up by Sir r bert Schom-
burgk
In October 1871. Scfoi Fortlquc Venezuelan
Minister to Great Britain. wrote 10 Lord Aber-
deem. Colona Secreary OF State in the Cabinet
OF Sir Robert Peel, referring to Venezuela s pro-
posal to negotiate treaty Cn the boundaries. and
protesting that before the proposal vas answered
a sentry-box carrying British flag. had been
built on the Republics territory Senior Fortique
again urged that 4 boundary treaty b. entered
ucon.
Lord Aberdeen replied that ne had received Sir
Robert SchOmburgks report that ne had planted
boundary posts at certain points in the country
ne had s,rvpy,i being fully aware that thc de-
marcation So made was merely a preliminary
measure, open Il further dis oussiOn between
Great Britain and Venezuela. 1t did not appear,
however. tnat SIR Robert ocn0mDurSK mad I"Il
any building.
Scnor Fortique replied that Sir Robert
SchombuipN had planted IT the mouth of the
OrinOc0 River several posts. liz had also raised
tho British flag with Il show OF force. and per
formed othcg acts Of dOwinion In Nenezuels.
Extreme courtesy alone prevented Venezuela
from forcby cxpelng him from The country.
Ai1rr some delay Lord Aberdeen replied to
Senior Fortique confirming his previous state
ncni. aNd adding that much unnec essary IN
convsnionc" would result from tn" removal Of
the posts "a they would afford the only talSi-
BILE means BY which Her Majesty's Governme mt
could be prepared to discuss tne question OF
boundaries with Nenezueln. The posts were
erected for that express purpose, and not. as
the Ncnezu Ian Government appeared 10 ap-
prchend rs indications of dominion and empire
on the part OF Great Britain
In the same dispatch Lord Aberdeen expressed
pleasure at learning that the Governor OF
Guiana had assured tnr Venezuelan ernissarles
that Great Britain had not occupied Point
In January. ,Si2 Scnor Fortique again wrote
70 reinsist upon the removal II tire posts.
THE Chronicle" then quotes from the second
note Of Lord Salisbury To Secretary OF Stalt
ney. The words
At the urgent ertreaty Of the VenezIelan Coy, Coy
,rnmen; these TWO posts were a,erwSrd renoyed
mad IN ne ds,irc' understanding thai Great
Britain Gid not thereby IN any "sy abandon her
claim 10 that position
THE Chronicier Also quotes from Jle Two
documents IN which this concession was made
The first document consists of 4 disiatch sent
In March, 1Si2 by Henry Light Governor oi
Guiana. To Daniel OLeary. British Consul az
Caracas steiing that the Colonial Secretary had
ordered the Governor to remove the lana marks
Tho other document Is dispatch from MT
O'Lcary To- the Venezuelan Govern9lent contain
INC thn substance Of Governor Lights dispatch
The Chronicle" remarks that nothing indi-
Gates the condition asserted by Lord SALISBURY
and adds
I. tre above documents ar, genuine. ana ther
.r,tr.e excludes suspicion. the SchoWh.rEk ihe u
rr1ycd WORTHLESS as basis OF any territorial claim
Whatever -, ,.. .,rro
Chronicle" says. . ,,.,
Ne ar, bound 90 slv assuming. as We are bpHn'
,o ,..u,, the accuracy OF representatives clA,
ZION. fhai tnaN nvhidato Lord SallsOurNs se'ohu
dsuach u Secretary Olney and render Il h,''@slly
f,r n. to revise whole N"~ oi VI" sillfuVh.
1..r,rlv fher. can now be question r'g'ring the
Schonburgk Inc as a 1mroi thrust between ,iiana
and Veuezue'a lu word. England ana the ni'rI
states have a way ont We iook 10 the statesmen
an hoih siI.s To- enlarge e until her" L. found CON-
rief. escape from 4 situation OF the utmost per-.