British App. VII, pp. 107-114. British Case, p. 130. Venezuelan Case, p. 213. British App. VII, p. 109. Venezuelan Case, p. 217. Blue Book Venezuela (No.1), 1896, p. 413. It is incorrect to suggest that the negotiations respecting the boundary question were connected with the "Project of Treaty." This Treaty was a Commercial Treaty, the negotiations for which were independent of those for 10 the boundary, which were proceeding concurrently. It is true that General Guzman Blanco introduced an arbitration Article into the Treaty, but, as has been pointed out in the British Case this Article referred only to differences 15 which might in the future arise between the two countries, and no statement was made in the correspondence to suggest that it should apply to any pending question, or to indicate that Her Majesty's Government had in any way modified 20 their previous decision-that some settlement in regard to the boundary question was a preliminary condition to the conclusion of the negotiations on the other matters in dispute. On p. 213 the following passage occurs :- 25 "General Guzman Blanco's reply to Lord Salisbury, dated the 5th August, 1885, was in the nature of a protest against the refusal of the British Government to respect the engagements of the previous Government, which had already given formal assent to the 30 arbitration Article." The previous Government did not formally assent to the Treaty in which the arbitration Article was included. Lord Granville accepted it provisionally, "subject to reference to the 35 Departments of Her Majesty's Government concerned." 14. This proposition is wholly inaccurate except in so far as it states the fact that the Dutch planned and established settlements on 10 the bank of the Pomeroon west of the Essequibo River. These settlements were not in violation of the Treaty of Münster, but were expressly in accordance with the rights reserved to the Dutch by the Vth Article of that Treaty. 15 These settlements were attacked by the French and English, but not by the Spaniards; they were subsequently re-established, and control of the whole district was retained by the Dutch throughout the whole period of their possession 20 of the Colony. 10. The Cuyuni-Mazaruni Basin, being the region bounded on the north by the Imataca Mountains; on the east by the Blue Mountains, by the lowest falls of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers, and by the Ayangcanna Mountains; on the south by the Ayangcanna and Pacaraima Mountains; and on the west by the divide separating the waters of the Caroni and Orinoco Rivers from the waters of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers, is a geographical and political unit, the material occupation of a part of which, by the nation first discovering and exploring it, is in law attributive and constructive possession of the whole. 12. By the Treaty of Münster the Dutch engaged to neither sail to nor trade in any places held and possessed by the King of Spain. 13. By the same Treaty the Dutch engaged to respect the sovereignty of Spain over all lordships, towns, castles, fortresses, commerce and countries at that time held or possessed by Spain, and to do nothing which might be an infraction of the Treaty. 14. Twice during the latter part of the seventeenth century, the Dutch, in violation of the Treaty of Münster, attempted to plant settlements west of the Essequibo River, on the banks of the Pomeroon. These attempts were ineffectual, the proposed settlements being in each case attacked, and the Dutch driven therefrom. The first of said settlements lasted less than eight years; and the second less than three years. 15. Except for these attempts at settlement by the Dutch on the Pomeroon, Spain, during the whole of the seventeenth century exercised exclusive political control of the entire territory west of the Essequibo River. 16. Twice during the eighteenth century the Dutch, in violation of the Treaty of Münster, attempted to establish slave and trading Posts on the Cuyuni River. These attempts were ineffectual; one of these Posts was attacked and destroyed by the Spaniards; the second was abandoned by the Dutch, because of fear of the Spaniards. 17. During the whole of the eighteenth century Spain exercised exclusive political control of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Basin, down to the lowest falls of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers. |