Mr. Andrade to Mr. Olney.

[Translation.]

Sir: The leading organs of the press in this country have recently published the information taken from the St. James Gazette, of London, respecting a dispatch of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of state for the colonies, recommending that the government of British Guiana increase its police force, purchase two Maxim guns, one of which is to be placed at the Yuruan station, and open a road through the interior from Barima to the Yuruan and the Cuyuni. The said dispatch is said to have been followed by a cablegram, addressed by the said Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Cameron Lees, with regard to the said three points.

Your excellency will find in the appended copy of the Daily Chronicle, of Georgetown, issue of Friday, the 27th of September, the full text of the dispatch referred to, as well as the proceedings of the session of the combined court at which it was discussed and from which the existence of the cablegram subsequent to the dispatch, which embodied special instructions that the secretary of the colonial government thought he should not disclose, seems to be equally well established.

Although the three above-mentioned propositions appear therein to be denied, yet another was passed at the same session authorizing the government to build a police station on the Yuruan, in the place of that now existing, on a more healthy spot. And all this indicates that Great Britain still persists in considering beyond dispute as a part of the colony of British Guiana the territory that Venezuela has been contending for during fifty years and more and in administering according to her own exclusive will.

Accept, etc.,

José Andrade.