The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-01
region now In dispute was thereby further
strengthened and confirmed.

region now In dispute was thereby further
strengthened and confirmed.
80 much for the title Of Spain as against
the Dutch up to the beginning OF the pres
ent century. How has that title been
/ affected by the transfer Of the Dutch claim
to Great Britain on the one hand and tho
transfer OF the rights OF Spain to Venezuela
on the other?
The counsel for the South American Re
public answer that, at the time OF tho
acquisition by Great Britain OF the colony
now known as British Guiana the territory
belonging to or that might be lawfully
claimed by New Netherlands was all To-
Gated east of the Essequibo River. On the
other hand at the time of the acquisition
by Great Britain Of the colony now known
as British Guiana, the territory belonging
to or that might lawfully be claimed by the
Kingdom OF Spain comprised the entire
tract between the Orinoco and Essequibo
Rivers
Following the history OF the disputed
region from this point, the advocates OF
Venezuela say that Spain having from the
time of the acquisition by Great Britain Of
the colony now known as British Guiana
until SPANS title to the tract now in con-
troversy became vested in Venezuela, con-
tinued to exercise exclusive political control
Of the entire territory between the Orinoco
and Essequibo Rivers. except only OF the
strip Of land known as the Arabian Coast"
lying between the mouth Of the Essequibo
River and the mouth Of the Pomeroon
River; and the occupation Of eaid strip Of
land by Great Britain during a portion OF
the present century having been unlawful
and In violation Of the Treaty of Minister;
and Venezuela having continued, from her
acquisition of SPANS title up to 1850, to
exercise exclusive political control of the
same territory, except only of said Arabian
Coast" the original title to the entire
region formerly vested in Spain and now
vested In Venezuela has thereby further
been strengthened and confirmed
The counsel for Venezuela add that the
present occupation by Great Britain Of
portion of the territory now in dispute
being in violation of the Treaty Of Mum
ster and Of the agreement made in 1850
between Great Britain and Venezuela. and
having been effected subsequently to the
year II $50 in the interior, and subsequently
to 1874 on the coast, cannot in any way
be made the basis OF title by prescription
to that region.
The counsel for Venezuela conclude by
defining the boundary line, which, in their
opinion, should be drawn by the Board Of
Arbitration. The line between Venezuela
and British Guiana begins, they say, at the
mouth Of the EsseQuibo River; runs thence
southwark along the mid-channel OF said
river to its junction with the Cuyuni and
Mazaruni rivers; thence around the island
Of Kykovoral, leaving said island to the
east; thence along the mid-channel of said
Essequibo river to the boundary line sepa-
rating the territory Of Venezuela from that
OF Brazil.
They add that, the present occupation by
British subjects and by persons under Brit
ish protection having been effected subse-
quently to 1880 in the interior, and subse-
quently to 1884 on the coast, and having
been undertaken after due warning from
the Venezuelan Government that the titles
thus sought to be acquired would not be
recognized by 1t, and after notice from the
British Government that persons so enter
ing into said territory must do so at their
own peril, said subjects and persons may
be regarded by Venezuela as mere tres
passers, and Venezuela is under no obliga-
ton to recognize any British titles which
said subjects or persons may have acquired
to land situate within said territory.
Such is the case for Venezuela 1t is, Of
course, impossible to foretell what decision
will be reached by the Board Of Arbi-
tration in which the Cars subject, Prof
MARTENS, has the casting vote We may
deem it, perhaps, significant, however, that
the counsel for Great Britain in his argu-
ment, the text Of which lies before us, ad-
mits the propriety Of modifying the bound
airy claimed by him so as to give to Vene-
zuela the savannah territory occupied in
the last century by the Capuchin Missions,
which were destroyed in the year 1917