The Lines of Demarcation of Pope Alexander Vi. And the Treaty of Tordesillas A. D. 1493 and 1494 #271515

The case for Venezuela was based primarily on the Bull of Pope Alexander and upon discovery. Without entering into the controversy it may be observed, that the argument proves too much 3 for the whole of the present United States fell within the Spanish demarcation and, from where Cabot's voyage ended, the whole coast of the Atlantic was first. Discovered, and ceremonial possession was taken, for Spain. The British take their title in Guiana from the Dutch, and the United States take their title from the British 3 so that it is not easy to build an argument on discovery and upon the Bull of 1493 without involving some considerable portions of the United States. While these questions may however be considered as settled it will interest the student to recall the fact that, in these northern seas, the hne of demarcation was supposed to cut our coast and that Nova Scotia and Newfoundland fell to Portugal. This has been incidentally referred to in previous papers3 but, inasmuch as the papal Bulls of 1493 and the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494 are within the scope of our history, it is not lost labour to inquire what these documents were and what was their meaning.