Evening star., 1907-08-19
OFFICER TOO JEALOUS
Capt. Calder Invaded Venezue-
Ian Territory.
NO TROUBLE APPREHENDED
British Government Will Settle Mat
tiers Diplomatically.
ACTION OF FRONTIER GUARDS
Excitement Caused at Georgetown,
British Guiana, by Raid Into
Adjacent Territory.
NO TROUBLE APPREHENDED
ACTION OF FRONTIER GUARDS

LONDON. August 19.-The foreign office
today received confirmation Of the report
of the raid made by Capt. Calder at the
head of a small frontier force from British
Guiana, into Venezuelan territory and the
seizure of small quantity of ''balata' al
legged to have been collected in British ter
ritory. The action is attributed to the over
zealousness of the frontier officer, and the
government will take steps to settle the
matter automatically.
Much excitement has been caused at
Georgetown, British Guiana. by report OF
/ an invasion Of Venezuelan territory by
Capt Calder, in command of a small from
tier force from British Guiana, and the
seizure of quantity of balata tthe gum OF
the balata tree. used for insulating wires),
which it is alleged, had been collected on
British territory.
Capt Calder's force 1t Is reported. went
down the Barima river and crossed the
boundary into Venezuelan territory. where
Capt Calder, at the point of revolver, de-
manded that the Venezuelan commissioner
surrender to him 40OO pounds of balata
The commissioner gave up the gum He
has made protest however, to PRESIDENT
Castro and the British consul at George
town. British Guiana, against the seizure
of the balata and the invasion OF Ven
eZuelan territory.
Alleged trespasses on the boundary of the
other were frequent causes of complaint by
Venezuela and British Guiana before the
year 1899. when the delimtation or the
boundary line between the two countries
resulting from the decision of the Paris
tribunal of arbitration became effective.
Since that time cases of that character
have rarely, If ever, occurred; certainly
there have been none that have gwen rise
to any complications.
For years engineers, representing the
British and the Venezuelan governments,
have been at work marking the boundary
line, and that work has just about been
completed. a. ~. 800.
In the present instance the alleged Of
fense occurred in that section of country
which was for long time In dispute be-
tween Venezuela and Great Britain and In
that portion of which the Barima river
forms the dividing or boundary line. The
collection of balata Is common Industry
in the Barima river section and IT there
has been a violation of the boundary line
and the balata was collected on British
territory, charged, the suggestion Is
made that this may have been done by per-
sons ignorant of the exact marking of the
boundary. who had no real intention Of
violating the law.
At the Venezuelan legation the incident
is not regarded as likely to lead to any
serious complications, but the opinion is
expressed that 1t will be readily adjusted
through the usual diplomatic channels. The
British government and that of Venezuela
said to be on excellent terms, which
this character will be settled amicably.
Senior Pulido. the charge d'affaires of the
legation, said today that he had not re-
ceived any advices about the incident.
The State Department Not Notified.
Although in receipt Of report from
United States Minister Russell of recent
date relative to the status Of certain
American cases in Venezuela, the State
Department has heard nothing from him
or indeed from any official source relative
to the reported unlawful crossing Of the
Venezuelan border by a British Guiana Gus
toms officer, and the carrying of by him
of a quantity of valuable balata gum. The
to attach much importance to the incident
characterizing 1T as an insignificant diff
Guilty growing out of the administration of
the customs law OF frequent occurrence In
countries so thinly populated as that Sec
ton 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 any customs officer in crossing
international boundary and making
forci'ole reprisals, so II is believed that II
the facts are as reported the British for
eign Office will make the necessary amends
to the Venezuelan government and admon-
ish the colonial authorities to refrain from
such raids across the border. On the other
hand, II the Venezuelans have been un-
lawfully taking British gum, the Brit
ish customs officer alleged, the offense is
one that falls clearly within the list of Of
fenses contained In all modern extradition
treaties, and IL is supposed that 1t will be
comparatively easy to secure the punish
nent OF the culprits by lawful methods.