126 Chapter 2
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On the 100th anniversary of international arbitration of the disputed Esse-
quibo, Venezuela called the arbitration that demarcated the border between Venezuela
and Guyana null and unjust. Guyana expressed concern over the possibility of aggres-
sion from Venezuela, which was more heavily militarized. Venezuela moved troops
to the border with Guyana but assured Guyanese authorities that they were not there
to provoke conflict; instead, they were to fight drug trafficking in the area and were
unrelated to the anniversary of the arbitration. Venezuela reassured that its intentions
were for a peaceful resolution of the border dispute with Guyana. Repeated border
violations by Venezuelan troops led Guyana to put its forces on alert.
101 Venezuela/140 Brazil
MID#2239
Started in January 1969. See the narrative in the 101 Venezuela/110 Guyana dyad
dispute list.
101 Venezuela/200 United Kingdom
MID#1628
Dispute Number: 1628
Date(s): May 1858 to August 27, 1858
Participants: 200 United Kingdom, 220 France/101 Venezuela
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns the joint Anglo-French blockade of Venezuela that
followed the ousting of Venezuelan leader Jose Tadeo Monagas. After the revolution
of March 1858, Monagas sought, and was granted, asylum in the French legation in
Caracas. Wenceslao Urrutia, part of the cabinet of Julian Castro (who assumed power
after Monagas), signed an agreement in March 1858 with the diplomatic circle in
Caracas. Known now as the Urrutia protocol, this agreement assured that the new
government in Venezuela would assure the safe transport of Monagas to a destina-
tion where he would ultimately be exiled from Venezuela. The protocol was not well
received by the other members of Castro’s cabinet, nor the Venezuelan public. Urrutia
was forced into resignation, and the Venezuela government gave overtures to the dip-
lomatic circles that they would not honor this agreement. Representatives from other
powers gave the issue only minor emphasis, but France and Britain opted to escalate.
They began a joint blockade of Venezuela until satisfaction of the Urrutia protocol
came. Relations between Venezuela and the two European powers were temporarily
suspended. The respective chargés d’affaires retired to their blockading ships. After
some minor tension and a threat of another upheaval that was ultimately defeated, both