HC Deb 25 August 1887 vol 319 c1810
MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Government are in possession of information to the effect that the President of Venezuela has asked for, and been declined, the intervention of the United States of America; and, whether he had accordingly sailed for Europe, so as to endeavour to secure the intervention of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, in the dispute now pending between British Guiana and Venezuela, with reference to boundary?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)

(who replied) said: In reply to an offer of the United States Government of their good offices to promote a settlement of the dispute between Her Majesty's Government and that of Venezuela with regard to the boundary line between that country and British Guiana, they were informed that the attitude which had been taken up by General Blanco in regard to the question at issue precluded Her Majesty's Government from submitting it at the present moment to the arbitration of any third Power. Her Majesty's Government have no information as to the intentions of General Guzman Blanco.