Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-08-23
INVASION DUE
To JEALOUS
OFFICER
DIPLOMACY WILL SETTLE
VENEZUELAN AFFAIR."
British Government Attaches
Little Importance to Raid on
NeighbOring Republic From
British Guiana.

London, Aug. 22-The foreign Of
fee today received confirmation of the
report of the raid made by Captain
Calder at the head Of a small frontier
force from British Guiana into VeneZ-
lfelan territory and the seizure of a
small quantity of "balata" alleged 10
have been collected in British terri
itory. The action is attributed to the
overzealOusness of the frontier officer,
and the government will take proper
steps to settle the matter diplomatic
caly.
Much excitement has been caused
at Georgetown, British Guiana. by re-
port of an invasion of Venezuelan ter
ritory by Captain Calder, in command
of a small frontier force from British
Guiana and the seizure of a small
quantity of balata (the gum of the
balata tree, used for insulating wires)
which IL is alleged, had been collected
on British territory.
Captain Calder's force, 1t is re-
ported went down the Barima river
and crossed the boundary into Venez-
uean territory, where Captain Calder,
al the point of a revolver demanded
that the Venezuelan commissioner
surrender to him 1000 pounds of ba-
Iata The commissioner gave up the
gum He has made a protest, how
ever, to President Castro. and the
British consul at Georgetown, British
Guiana, against the seizure of the ba-
lata and the invasion of Venezuelan
territory.
Alleged trespasses on the boundary
of the other were frequent causes of
complaint by Venezuela and Great
Britain before the year 1899, when
the delineation of the boundary line
between the two countries resulting
from the decision of the Paris tribu-
nal of arbitration became effective.
Since that time cases of that charac-
ter have rarely. IL ever. occurred: GER
tainly there have been none that have
given rise to any complications.
For years engineers, representing
the British and the Venezuelan gov
governments have been at work max
ing the boundary line. and that work
has in~t about been completed.
Ia the present Instance the alleged
offense occurred I'm that section of
country which was for a long time In
dispute between Venezuela and Great
Britain, and In that portion of which
the Barima river forms the dividing
or boundary line. The collection Of
balata is a common industry in the
Barma river region and If there mas
been a violation of the boundary line
and the balata was collected on BRIT
ish territory, as charged, the sugges-
tion IL made that this may have been
done by persons ignorant of the re-
cent marking Of the boundary. VINO
had no real intention Of violating the
Law.
At the Venezuela Legation the Incl
dent is not regarded as likely to lead
to any serious complications bnt the
opinion Is expressed that II VIII be
readily adjusted through the usual
diplomatic channels. The British gov
ernment and that of Venezuela are
said to be on excellent terms, whlch
leads to the conclusion that an af-
fair of this character will be settled
amicably. Senor Paulido. the charge
d'affaires of the legation. said today
that he had not received any advice
about the incident
The state Department Not Notified.
Washington, Aug. 22.-Although ~
receipt Of a report from United stat 3
Minister Russell of recent date rel; =
tive to the status of certain American
cases In Venezuela, the state depart
ment has heard nothing from him or
indeed from any official source rela-
tive to the reported unlawful crossing
of the Venezuelan border by Brit
iSh Guiana customs officer. and the
carrying off by him of quantity OF
valua bic balata gum. The officials OF
the department are not disposed 70 at
tach much importance TO the lnclueht,
characterizing IL as an insignificant
difficulty growing out of the admins
tr9tiDn of the customs law, OF frequent
occurrence in countries SO thickly
populated as that section Of South
America where the difficulty Is said
To have occurred. 1t Is easily under
stood that the natives In that section
may have hazy ideas about the exact
location of the boundary line. OF
course the taking of gum unlawfully
IN British forests would not warrant
and customs officer IN crossing an
International boundary and making
forcible reprisals, so its believed that
if the facts are as reported the Brit
ish foreign office will make the neces-
sary amends TO the Venezuelan gov
eminent and admonish the colonial
authorities TO refrain from such raids
across the border. on the other hand.
if the Venezuelans have been unlaw-
fully taking British gum. as the Brit
ifh customs officer alleged. the Of
Tense is one that falls clearly within
the list Of offenses contained in all
modern extradition treaties, and II -
supposed that IL will be comparatively
easy te secure the punishment OF the
rgIpri.s by lawful methods.