International Conflicts, 1816-2010. Militarized Interstate Dispute Narratives - Douglas M. Gibler

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sides agreed to a compromise on August 27. In this agreement, Monagas was allowed
to safely leave Venezuela and relations between both sides would be returned to their
pre-dispute levels.


MID#1630


Dispute Number: 1630
Date(s): May 1859
Participants: 101 Venezuela/200 United Kingdom
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Venezuela arrested the British chargé d’affaires, Bingham, for his support
of Monagas, a Venezuelan ex-leader. The start and end dates are unclear, but there is
no indication when or even whether he was released.


MID#1637


Dispute Number: 1637
Date(s): January 1881 to July 1881
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/101 Venezuela, 2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In January 1881, Venezuela sent a note to Washington about British
military demonstrations at the mouth of the Orinoco River. As part of the Monroe
Doctrine, the US Secretary of State issued a statement that the United States would
not stand by if the demonstrations were, in fact, a precursor to the British use of force
to acquire Venezuelan territory. On February 12, 1881, Britain stated that the Moroco
River as the line between Venezuela and British Guiana was unacceptable. Britain
proposed one mile south of the river on February 21, which was rejected by Venezu-
ela. On September 15, 1881, Britain proposed a new boundary line, with considerable
reductions from its original claim. Britain’s Lord Granville gave the proposal but
received no answer and no further negotiations came. The militarized portion of the
dispute describes several displays of force by the British and threats to use force by
the Americans.


MID#1639


Dispute Number: 1639
Date(s): October 1886 to August 1887
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/101 Venezuela
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes actions related to the Venezuelan-British claims
over the boundary dividing Venezuela and British Guiana. Its origins lay in Sir
Robert Hermann Schomburgk, a German geographer who was contracted by the

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