Instructions to to its confluence with the Essequibo; and thence southward Señor Fortique re garding negotia- along the left bank of the Essequibo to its confluence with the Rupuruni as a terminus.”* tions. Lord Aberdeen's statement regard proceedings. To Señor Fortique's note of October 5, the Earl of ing Schomburgk's Aberdeen replied on October 21, 1841, stating, with reference to Mr. Schomburgk's proceedings, that the demarcation so made was merely a preliminary measure open to future discussion between the Governments of Great Britain and Venezuela, and that Mr. Schomburgk had left behind him no "guard-house, sentry box or other building bearing the British flag."+ Governor Light's statement on same subject. Protest by Vene zuela. In line with these declarations of Lord Aberdeen, Governor Light, on October 20, 1841, wrote to Señor Aranda and stated that, “Mr. Schomburgk's mission was one purely of survey, with instructions from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord Palmerston, to erect landmarks on the ground in order to mark out by permanent erections the line of boundary so claimed by Great Britain; it would then rest with each of the three Governments, namely, Brazil, Venezuela, and the Netherlands, to make any objections which they might have to bring forward against these boundaries, and to state the reasons upon which such objections might be founded, and Her Britannic Majesty's Government would then give such answers thereto as might appear proper and just.'"‡ Governor Light added: "I trust this explanation will be satisfactory to your Excellency; neither the Government of Venezuela nor of Great Britain having hitherto occupied the Barima, and that point marking the boundary claimed by the British Government, it will be prudent not to attempt an occupation which would complicate negotiation, and might lead to unpleasant discussion." § The Venezuelan Commissioners to British Guiana * U. S. Commission, Report, vii, 6. † Appendix to Case, iii, 198-199. Appendix to Case, iii, 197-198. § Appendix to Case, iii, 198. failed in their mission, so far as negotiations for a boundary treaty were concerned, but they recorded their protest against the encroachments of the British; and, in a letter to Governor Light, dated October 26, 1841, they set forth the relations of Venezuela to the Orinoco delta in the following words: "And to this plain and extended right to this territory must. be added the necessary exclusive and constant use which Venezuela has always particularly enjoyed of the great mouth of the Orinoco called Boca de Navio,' including the two Rivers Amacura and Barima, which empty themselves into the said great mouth. All nations with whom we trade will bear witness to the ancient establishment and daily service of our pilot boats' between the Island Pagayos, in the River Orinoco, and Barima Point, which is the main point of entrance and exit by the great mouth of the Orinoco; which is for Venezuela, by right and necessity, what the mouths of the Thames and the Seine are to their respective nations. And besides the pilotage service, Venezuela has exercised its right of police and prevention of smuggling over all the southern bank of La Boca de Navios,' and at both sides, and at both mouths, of its two tributaries, the Barima and Amacura. Nor can Venezuela ever deprive herself of this use and right without considering it an offence, which she can never fear from her great and just friend Great Britain."* Protest by Venezuela. Relations of Venezuela to Orinoco delta. Schomburgk's official report of On October 23, 1841, in answer to inquiries by Governor Light, of British Guiana, Mr. Schomburgk Oct. 23, 1841. made a special report setting forth the grounds upon which he based the British claim to Barima. and Amacura.+ This was an official report in tended for the eyes of the public. On the same date he wrote to Governor Light a confidential letter, pointing out the importance to Great Britain * Appendix to Case, iii, 199-200. Appendix to Case, iii, 121-125, confidential letter of Oct. 23, 1841. Schomburgk's of the possession of Point Barima as a point commanding the entrance to the Orinoco River.* In this letter he dwelt at length upon the fact that the occupation of Barima meant the commercial and the military control of the entire Orinoco region. Venezuela's de mand for removal posts. The Government of Venezuela, becoming better of Schomburgk apprised as to the acts of Mr. Schomburgk, made a renewed and stronger protest against such acts, and demanded the removal of the posts which had been erected. This was in a note from Señor Fortique to the Earl of Aberdeen, dated November 18, 1841. In that note Señor Fortique made the following statement: Venezuela again urges a boundary treaty. Schomburgk's memorial of Nov. 30, 1841. Venezuela again demands removal of "The Undersigned has subsequently been directed to assure Her Majesty's Government that Commissioner Schomburgk, overstepping, no doubt, the terms of his authorization, has at a point of the mouth of the Orinoco fixed several posts with Her Majesty's initials--has hoisted the British flag in that locality, solemnly attended by an armed force-and has proceeded to other acts of dominion and empire."t In a separate note of the same date Señor Fortique again urged upon the British Government the desir ability of a treaty, and his readiness to negotiate it.‡ On November 30, 1841, Mr. Schomburgk submitted a further letter, a memorial, and two maps to Governor Light. § Not receiving any reply to his notes of November Schomburgk posts. 18, excepting a mere formal acknowledgment of their receipt, Señor Fortique again addressed himself to Lord Aberdeen on December 8, 1841. In his note of that date he again, and in stronger terms, requested the immediate removal of the posts erected * Appendix to Case, iii, 125-127. § Appendix to Case, iii, 127-128. by Schomburgk, and once more expressed his readiness to negotiate a boundary treaty.* In answer to this Lord Aberdeen replied, on December 11, 1841, stating that the erection of the posts was merely a preliminary measure, that they were not intended "as indications of dominion and empire on the part of Great Britain," and "that the British authorities have not occupied Point Barima." + Venezuela again demands removal of Schomburgk posts. Lord Aberdeen's answer. Venezuela re peats her demand. The Venezuelan Government, however, determined to remove every semblance of British authority within Venezuelan territory; and in a note of January 10, 1842, repeated its demand for the removal of the posts.‡ In reply to this Lord Aberdeen, on January 31, by Great Britain. 1842, wrote stating that the British Government would order the removal of the posts.§ Removal ordered The matter of the posts having been thus disposed of, on May 23, 1843, Señor Fortique once more urged upon Lord Aberdeen the necessity of determining by treaty the boundary between the two countries. Nego- Negotiations for boundary treaty. tiations were finally begun on January 31, 1844, when Señor Fortique submitted in writing the claims of Venezuela to all territory west of the Essequibo.* Lord Aberdeen answered the note last referred to in detail, entering into a discussion of Venezuela's claims as set forth by Señor Fortique, and presenting the claims of Great Britain.tt The views of the two governments were so far apart, however, that it at once became evident that nothing could be arrived at, if there were not mutual concessions. In proposing a compromise line which should give to * Appendix to Case, iii, 202–204. Importance of Orinoco mouth. Importance of Venezuela the control of the Orinoco mouth, Lord AberOrinoco mouth. deen in the following words recognized the importance to Venezuela of the command of that river: Lord Aberdeen's proposals rejected by Venezuela. "Believing, then, that the undivided possession of the Orinoco is the object most important for the interests of Venezuela, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to cede to the Republic a portion of the coast amply sufficient to insure Venezuela against the mouth of this her principal river being at the command of any foreign Power. With this view, and regarding it as a most valuable concession to Venezuela, Her Majesty's Government are willing to waive their claim to the Amacura as the western boundary of the British territory, and to consider the mouth of the Moroco River as the limit of Her Majesty's possessions on the sea-coast. They will, moreover, consent that the inland boundary shall be marked by a line drawn directly from the mouth of the Moroco to the junction of the River Barama with the River Waini, thence up the River Barama to the Annama, and up the Annama to the point at which that stream approaches nearest to the Acarabisi, and thence down the Acarabisi to its confluence with the Cuyuni, from which point it will follow the bank of the Cuyuni upwards until it reaches the high lands in the neighbourhood of Mount Roraima which divide the waters flowing into the Essequibo from those which flow into the Rio Branco. All the territory lying between a line such as is here described, on the one side, and the River Amacura and the chain of hills from which the Amacura rises, on the other, Great Britain is willing to cede to Venezuela, upon the condition that the Venezuelan Government enter into an engagement that no portion of it shall be alienated at any time to a foreign Power, and that the Indian tribes now residing within it shall be protected against all injury and oppression.' The line proposed by Lord Aberdeen was not acceptable to Venezuela, and the conditions attached in its acceptance were so at variance with the rights and dig nity of that country that, for the time being, negotia tions were suspended. In 1850 there was a rumor that Great Britain had * Appendix to Case, iii, 210-211. |