VENEZUELAN ARBITRATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3864, 6 October 1899, Page 6

VENEZUELAN ARBITRATION

AWARD OF COMMISSION. IN FAVOUR OF GREAT BRITAIN. LONDON, 'Wednesday. The award of the Venezuelan Arbitration Commission has been made known. Venezuela has been awarded Banna Point and the mouth of the .Orinoco river; otherwise the award adheres 111 the main to tho Schombnrgk line of delimitation. ’ . . Less is given to .Venezuela than Great Britain ever offered to her. ■ .1 Great Britain gets sail the goldfields, and also equality in navigation rights. [The long-standing boundary, dispute between Great xsritain (representing British Guiana) anu Venezuela attracted universal attention in 1896, and was in the following .year submitted to arbitration. The Schomburgk line mentioned in the cablegram was surveyed so long ago as 1839. In 1841 it was marked out as a reasonable, basis for a settlement of the dispute. The line was not meant as indicating the extreme limit of the territory over waich British rights were held to extend, .-but_simply as a. reasonable compromise. However, Venezuela refused to accept it, and subsequent negotiations, including offers from both sides, came to nothing. In 1881 a modified Schomburgk line was drawn, including rather more territory than the; original line. Diplomatic relations were suspended in 1887, and in 1890 Great Britain declared that the modified; Schomburgk lino was drawn, including rather more territory than the original line. • .Diplomatic relations wore suspended in 1837, and in 1890 Great Britian declared luat the; modified Schomburgk Hue was the minimum of her demands.] -