THE VENEZUELA DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11452, 17 June 1899, Page 5

THE VENEZUELA DISPUTE.

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

tress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright -: ' - ~ PARIS, June 16. (Received June 16, at 10.50 p.m.) ,jThe Arbitration Board appointed to deal ; the Venezuelan boundary dispute opened here, to-day under the presidency of Professor Maertens, the Russian international " authority.

, 'Sir Richard Webster opened the English side, of the case.

The boundary dispute ig a, long-standing one. , 11 came into special prominence in 1896, when there was much friction between Britain find the United States. Venezuela bases her claim to, the portion of British Guiana in dispute on those put forward by Spain, to whose rights she succeeded on acquiring her independence. The British, on the other hand, took over their claims from the Dutch, by'whom the colony was ceded to them in 1814..' In 1839 Che Schombuigk line was drawn as a reasonable basis for the settlement oi the dispute.."Venezuela refused to accept the line, and.-, negotiations which followed came to nothing. In 1881 a modificd'tiehomburgk line was drawn, including rather more territory than the original line. This was in response to an offei by. A'enezuela1 of a boundary line running from the coast at the mouth of tho Alarpco west to 60deg \V., and thence due south.. Diplomatic relations were suspended m 1887, and in 1890 Britain declared that the modified Schopiburgk lino was the minimum of he.r demand*. Aggressions by Venezuelan troops, in 189* and 1895 on British officials m- the Cuyuni district led to more trouble, lhe United States claimed the right to interfere ijncler the Monroe doctrine, and declared Britain's policy one of. aggrandisement. It was eventually agreed to settle the dispute on the principle that British Guiana should be treated as if it were an individual, and that fifty years' holding, whether by political contror or actual settlement, should give a good title, all other points being settled by arbitration. The Arbitration Treaty was signed on February 2; 1897. Lord Herschell and Mr Justice Collins were appointed arbitrators for Britain. Lord HerschcU having died, his place-was taken by Lord Russell of Killowen. Chief Justice Fuller and Justice Brewer are arbitrators for tho United Stales, and :Professor Maertens was appointed president. Tho case covers 1200 pages of type. -The Venezuelan Government contend that an original title" was established by Spain in virtue of discovery ar.d occupation to the whole of Guiana, that the acquisitions of the United Netherlands by the Treaty o£ Munster, in 1648, were bounded on the west by the Hiver Essequibo, with Hie island of Kykoveral. and thai this boundary determines the western limit of Dutch territory at that period. The arguments further affirm that no Dutchmen were-over authorised to settle in the territory now ■> dispute, and that nothing that can properly be called a settlement was ever established by the Dutch above the lowe=t falls of the Cuyuni River after the conclusion of the -Treaty; ofrMunster. On the other hand, Spain," it Is argued, did establish missions in the disputed territory, each of which missions contemplated the gathering of a township or village. ,"