2016.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TRELE CO. 885
النسانس
12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
MY LORD,
No. 288,
(TRINIDAD.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Temple, January 1883. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Sir Julian Pauncefote's letter of the 12th instant, stating that, with reference to the question of Patos or Goose island, which formed the subject of our report of 27th April 1880, and 29th January 1881, he was to transmit to us the draft of an instruction which your Lordship proposed to address to Her Majesty's Minister at Carácas, relative to the landing, in April last, of a party from an armed Venezuelan vessel on the island in question, and the abduction from thence of certain Venezuelan fugitives.
That, according to the statements of witnesses examined by the British authorities (Colonial Office letter to Foreign Office, June 16, 1882, and Mr. O'Leary's despatch No. 44 of May 26, 1882), it appeared that certain refugees from Venezuela sought shelter on Patos on the night of the 29th of April last.
That the day following, a vessel, flying the Venezuelan colours, anchored off the island, and sent a boat ashore to make inquiries. That subsequently two other boats landed armed crews, and the officer in command, on being warned that the island was British territory, replied that it had for four years belonged to Venezuela, and two of his men went in pursuit of the fugitives, some of whom eventually came down to the beach and went on board the Venezuelan vessel. That the officer, it is said, uttered a threat that if the remainder did not surrender in the course of the following day he would land troops to take them. That that threat did not, however, seem to have been carried out, and it appeared somewhat doubtful from the evidence whether the fugitives who went on board the Venezuelan vessel did so voluntarily or under coercion. That Her Majesty's representative at Caracas was instructed (No. 28, June 29, 1882) to demand an explanation of those proceedings, and he accordingly addressed a communication in that sense to the Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. O'Leary's No. 68, July 27, 1882).
That the latter replied in a note dated July 27, of which a translation was enclosed in Mr. O'Leary's Despatch No. 77, of August 5, 1882.
That in that note Señor Seijas disputed the claim of Great Britain to the island.
He asserted that, even were the title of Great Britain admitted, a nation had a right to invade neighbouring territory under the doctrine of self-preservation in certain cases. He gave a different version of the facts of the present case from that on which the complaint of Her Majesty's Government was based, and argued that there was in no sense an armed landing, that no coercion was resorted to, and therefore, that there was no violation of British rights.
That in view of the attitude taken by the Venezuelan Government, your Lordship considered that a strong remonstrance was required, and that we were requested to favour your Lordship with any observations we might have to offer on the proposed instruction to Colonel Mansfield.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to
Report
That we approve of the proposed instruction to Colonel Mansfield.
We would observe, however, that considering the proximity of the Island of Patos to the Venezuelan territory, the sensitiveness of that Government with regard to its becoming a place of refuge for those who are endeavouring to create disturbances in its territory, is not unnatural.
Considering, too, the doubt we have expressed in our Report of the 29th of January 1881, it would scem desirable to come to an arrangement with the Government of Venezuela, which should involve the cession of Patos at as early a date as possible.
The Earl Granville, K.G.
We have, &c.,
(Signed)
HENRY JAMES. FARRER HERSCHELL. PARKER DEANE.
▲ 12916.-309. 25.-12/84.
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