Venezuela.

Manawatu Herald, 6 February 1896, Page 2

Venezuela.

A New England editor, Mr How* land, of the *' Providence Journal," after a visit to the disputed territory wrote thus in his paper : -" Fifty years ago this oouocry was just as accessible to the world and nd more than it is to day. Why, then, will it be asked, should there be any change for the better in the condition of things on the banks of the Essequibo, Cnyuny, and Orinoco? It is because it is reported that there is not a creek or branch emptying into the upper part of the Cuyuny which does not contain sand-bars loaded with gold. Prove to our Yankee capitalists that a new and richer California lies within 7 days' steaming from New York awaiting their coming, and the rush to the new fieida.wili soon begin. Then the details given by Bchomburgk of fertile soils and unsurpassed climate will be duly appreciated, and his long

forgotten labours will finally receive the praise which is their due." Tho inexplicable thing to Mr Howland, after personal inquiries in Venezuela, was this. Even from tho point of view of the hnngerers after gold, the xojgb thing that could be done was to pidk a quarrel with England in the interests of Venezuela. The point to be settled according to him whether the country was to be governed from London or from Caracas, whether the rights of the investors were to be protected by a civilised nation like England, or to be afc the mercy of semi-civi-lised barbarians, who had torn Venezuela with revolutions for 60 years. " There never was," paid he, " and never can be, any permanent prosperity for any land when governed as Venezuela now is and always has been. The people of the United States are simply cutting off their noses to spite their faces when they protest against the so-called encroachment of England upon the territory of Venezuela. If the Schomburgk line could only be perfixed to-morrow we should see mining expeditions fitted out from New York almost the next day for the upper waters of Cuyuoy, and the streams of the yellow metal would begin to flow into the banks of the metropolis." With regard to the fixing of the boundary by Sir R. Schomburgk, Mr Howland writes :— It never appears to have occurred to the Government of the United States to enter into any protest against bis work ; on the contrary, he was wellknown in this country, where he has resided for two years, and was considered as the final authority on all matters pertaining to the regions which he had explored. It has taken 60 years to discover that his line was ; an infringment upon the Monroe ; doctrine, and, indeed, it has only just occurred to Great Britain that his work has be«n so carefully done . and endorsed by such high authori- j ties that it was time to insist upon < confirming its accuracy.