412 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



distinctly set forth. The general conclusions therein reached 

 and formulated are in substance that the traditional and estab- 

 lished policy of this government is firmly opposed to a forcible 

 increase by any European power of its territorial possessions on 

 this continent ; that this policy is as well founded in principle 

 as it is strongly supported by numerous precedents ; that as a 

 consequence the United States is bound to protest against the 

 enlargement of the area of British Guiana in derogation of the 

 rights and against the will of Venezuela ; that considering the dis- 

 parity in strength of Great Britain and Venezuela the territorial 

 dispute between them can be reasonably settled only by friendly 

 and impartial arbitration, and that the resort to such arbitration 

 should include the whole controversy. . . . 



It had long been known in the United States that there 

 existed a boundary dispute between Great Britain and 

 Venezuela, but in view of the fact that many of the 

 boundary lines in South America were vaguely defined and 

 had for many years caused more or less irritation between 

 the South American republics, the settlement of this par- 

 ticular one was not considered important to American inter- 

 est. This was the case even regardless of the fact that one 

 nl the contestants represented a European power. The dis- 

 pute between Great Britain and Venezuela originated in 

 conflicting Dutch and Spanish territorial claims in the 

 northeastern part of the South American continent, Eng- 

 land being the successor of the Dutch in Guiana, while _ 

 Venezuela based her claims upon Spanish title. It be- 

 came apparent in 1840 that these early territorial claims 

 were in conflict. Unsuccessful attempts to define the lines 

 characterized half a century of correspondence between the 

 rival claimants. From time to time, as the territory in dis- 

 pute became better known to settlers, the quarrel broke 

 out anew, but as often to be abandoned on failure of an 

 understanding. 



In 1876, Venezuela called the attention of the United v 

 States to the alleged encroachments of British. Guiana upon 

 her soil, laying especial emphasis upon English advances in 

 the region lying about the mouth of the Orinoco River. 

 From that time to 1895, Venezuela upon several occasions 



