New-York tribune., 1899-06-22
VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY.
SIR RICHARD WEBSTER RESUMES HIS
ARGUMENT IN PARIS.
c,r.r pprrA1N,s CASE ELABoRATBLY PUT
FORTH BEFORE THE coMMIssioN-Sr""
IsH AND DUTCH EXPLORERS

FORTH BEFORE THE
1871 AND DUTCH EXPLORERS
Paris June 21-The Venezuelan Bouhdary
Commission reassembled at ii ocioch 'n''
morning. and Sir Richard Webster, the brl''sn
Attorney General resumed his speech In Deha'i
of the case Of Great Britain. Dealing with the
perjod from 15OO TO 1881 he said Great Britain
was unable to rely on the Spanish or venezuelan
control and was compelled to fall bacK upon
the discovery and circumnavlgation. so-caleu'
of the unit of Guiana, Venezuela arguing that
Guiana was a defined area, that Spain hao uis-
covered that defined area and had taken part,
in the name OF the whole, taking such possess
sion as to entitle them to the whole
In close detail, Sir Richard Webster examined
the work Of the various explorers of the period
upon whom Venezuela relied. claiming they
we're not relevant to the territory Of Guiana
adding that the statements made before the
United States Commission must not be USED IN
argument against Great Britain. as frequent
deductions were made which were totally un-
supported as Justice Brewer. former member
of that Commission would doubtless remember.
According to counsel for Great Britain. the
first explorer who really reached GUIANA was
De Berrio, and his expedition was INTENDED Dir
Richard added. to apply to a different part ol
the country and for different object thah that
alleged by Venezuela, who sought TO Apply IL ~
n small district Counsel protested against Its
being pieced on 80 as to establish this "so-calIed
Spanish title" further asserting that 1T had
failed mIserably as both the Dutch and Spanish
historians agreed that there was one Spanish
settlement on the Orinoco before ITO
As to the Spanish coasting voyages, Sir Rich
ard Webster said the Spaniards occasl9hatiy S ps,
traded, but the Dutch traded and settled by
the truce Of 1909 the Dutch position was known
and acknowledged by Spain, and, as Motley, .he
historian, had stated, the orange nag ol tne
Manhattan Island to the shores or brazil anu anu
the Straits Of Magellan. provided Philp hau %
not had ships and soldiers to vindicate win lne
sword that sovereignty which spanish s"oiu0
and genius had once acquired
Continuing the British counsel claimed tnat
discovery when not followed by occupation was
Of no value as the basis of title, inasmuch as
nations had never consented to the contrary
doctrine. Discovery, II accompanied by certl-
fed or notorious intention TO acquire gave a
prior opportunity of acquiring. which oppor-
tunty 1t would be violation Of the comfy OF
nations to interfere with prematurely. Inc oc,
cupation Of vacant parts OF the world, treated
as not in the possession Of a distinct owner,
was not a case Of transfer Of possession Tor
there were no parties between whom such a
convention could pass Guiana was vacant.
The Dutch settled and controlled II. while the
Spaniards held one miserable spot on the OH
noco which could not control the huge district
lying between the Orinoco and the EssequiDo'
w
pIoits of the Dutch in conjunction with Sir Wal
ter Raleigh, bringing his argument up to the
incidents Of 1881
Lord Chief Justice Russell caused amusing
diversion when Sir Richard Webster was de-
ecribing the cannibalistic attacks at San Thome
lie asked Sir Richard II the latter did not Know
that this was a libeous statement. Sir Richard
replied that he could not vouch personally for its
accuracy but II was good history.
The Commission adjourned at o'clock until
tomorrow.
The particular instance which led Sir Richard
Webster to protest formally against the sub
mission as evidence OF differences and opinions
given before the United States Commission was
the introduction I'm the Venezuelan case Of the
opinion Of Professor Burr that certain early
map was probably Of Spanish origin and showed
Spanish exploration along nearly the whole OF
the Essedulbo River. whereas. Sir Richard
Webster asserted. II could be shown that there
was no ground TO attribute the map TO Span
ish source and that the allegation regarding
Spanish exploration was founded an
extraordinary msreadiug Of a note on the map.