The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-03
IMPORTANT If TRUE.
The London ChronicaI Claims to Have
Discovered Some Important Correspon-
dence on the venezeulan Boundary Ques-
tion,

AOhdOAls oesAddAJ "A nHOOi1l 16pI0-
sentative of the Daily Chronicle. now in
Washington, cables that paper that he
has obtained from source, that he
pledges not to reveal the official unpub-
| lished correspondence exchanged by Great
Britain and Venezuela, between Novem-
| Der, 1910, when Sir Robert Sohomburgk
was appointed to det rmine the frontier
of British Guiana, and April, 1842, when
England removed the boundary posts set
up by Sir Robert Schomburgk.
October, 184l, Senor Fortique, Vene-
zulean minister to Great Britain, wrote
Lord Aberdeen, colonial secretary of state
in the cabinet of Sir Robert Peel, re-
ferring to the Venezuela's proposal to
conclude treaty on the boundaries, pro-
testing that before the proposal was
answered, sentry box carrying British
flag had been built on the Republic y
territory. Senior Fortiuue urged q
boundary treaty be entered upon and
Lord Aberdeen replied that he had re-
oeiyed Sir Robert Sohom burgk's, report,
and on that he planted the boundary
posts at certain points in the country he
surveyed, being fully aware that the
demaroation SO made was merely pre-
liminary measure, open to future dis
cussion between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela. 1t did not appear that Sir sRobert
Schomburgk left any building.
f5enor Fortique replied that Sir Robert
Schom mburgk bad planted at the month of
the Orinoco river, several posts. He had
raised the British flag, and with show
of force, performed other acts Of dominion
in Venzuela. Extreme courtesy alone
prevented Venezuela from forcibly expell
i1,rr h int from tho
After some delay, Lord Aberdeen con-
frmed his previous statement and added
that much unnecessary Inconvenience
would result from a removal of the posts,
as they would afford the only tangible
means by which Her Majesty's govern
ment could be prepared to discuss the
question of boundaries with Venezuela
purpose, and not as the Venezuelan
government appeared to apprehend, as in
dicatiOns of dominion and empire on the
part of Great Britain. In the ssme dis
patch, Lord Aberdeen expressed his pleas
ure at learning that the governments of
Guiana has assured Venezuelan
emissaries that Great Britain had not
occupied Font Barima.
January, 1S42, Senior Fortique again
wrote to reinsist upon removal of the
posts.
The Chronicle quotes from note of
Salisbury's to Secretary of State Olney,
these words At the urgent entreaty
of the Venezuelan government the two
posts were afterward removed, as stated
by Mr. Olnay. but this concession was
made on the distinct understanding that
Great Britain did not thereby in any way
abandon her claim to that position
The Chronicle quotes from two docu-
ments in which this concession was
made. The first Of the documents con-
sists of a despatch sent in March, 1842
by Henry Light, governor Of Guiana to
Daniel O'Leary, british consul at Cara
cas- stating that the colonial secretary
had ordered the government to remove
the land marks. The other document is
despatch from Mr.. ~O'Leary to the Ven
| ezuelan government containing the sub
stance of Gov Lights despatch. The
Chronicle remarks that nothing Indicates
the condition asserted by Salisbury and
adds, II the above documents are gsnu-
inc, and their resources suspicious, the
Schom burgk line is proved wort bless as
basis of any territorial claim what
ever"
Commenting editorially on the subject,
the Chronicle saws: "We are bound to
say, as assuming as we are bonnd to as
suIne, the accuracy of our representatives
citations, that they vitiate Lord Sails
bury's second despatch to Secretary OIL
ney and render it necessary for US to re.
wise our whole view of the situation
There clearly can now be no question re-
garding the Schomburgk line as ramrod
thrust between Guiana and Venezuela
In O word England and the United
States lave way out. We look to the
statesmen on both sides TO enlarge it un-
til there is found a complete escape from
the situation OF utmost peril.''