Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-07
SOME DELAY ANTICIPATED
salisbury's Reply to 0lney May Not Bo
Made Public at Once.
WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
Position Assumed by England Nes
ccssitntcs Considerable Research
and May Indc6uitcIy Pro-
long Decision.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-While II is true.
as before stated In the Associated press dis
patches, that the administration Is aware
that Lord Salisbury's reply TO Secretary
Olneys note OF July last touching the Vene-
zuelan boundary dispute is adverse to the
proposition to arbitrate the title to the lands
lying westward OF the Schcmbsrg line, the
fact that the report has not yet reached
Washington precludes the idea of any speedy
action by our government In this matter.
Whep the reply is received by Sir Julian
Pauncefote he may occupy himself several
days at least in its careful consideration in
order that he may make sure that he is trans
mitting to Secretary Olney the views Of his
government, so far as 1t is proper for them
to be communicated to the United States
government without at the same time i'm
parting any portion Of the note that may be
framed for his private guidance. Then the
absence of the president from Washington
would operate further to delay proceedings
at the State department, for Secretary Olney
would not feel justified in making a forward
movement at this stage of the case, which is
now commonly regarded as at least approach
ing critical point, without advising fully
with the president. As the latter has prom
ised congress to communicate in n special
message the nature of Lord Salsbury's reply.
further delay may be caused by the prepara-
ticn of this message. On the whole 1t is.
probable that the next step cannot be taken
before the latter part of the present month,
If so early.
From what is gathered as to the nature Of
Lord Salisbury's note 1t is assumed here that
it is really calculated to make an issue,
which If allowed to fall into the course OF
treatment usual in diplomatic controversies,
will drift along for an indefinite period OF
time, since while there Is no abatement OF
the assertion of Great Britain's right to the
larger portion of the territory east of the
Schomberg line, arguments for the first time
are submitted to justify this assertion. Here
tofore all Of the facts presented to our gov
ernment concerning the rightful ownership OF
the disputed territory have come from Vene-
zuean sources The British government 1t
is true, has been afforded frequent opportuni-
ties in recent years to present its case, but
never heretofore has 1t gone so far as to
admit that there could be any doubt OF its
title and therefore has it gene on the theory
that there was nothing to argue. Diplomat
icay considered, therefore, this last move
of Lord SalisbLry's may be regarded as very
clever for he can easily find precedents to
Justify his request that the British case be
decided on its merits. This Is all new to our
government as compliance with the request
would involve much patient research and COM
parison of authorities, maps and surveys.
This is calculated to consume great deal
of time, and carry the issue along to u period
when perhaps Great Britain, being fred from
its present embarrassing situation growing
out of the Turkish complications, will be able
TO devote her entire energies to settlement
Of the Venezuelan question.
Lord Salsbury's reply to Secretary Olney's
letter requesting a final and definite answer
as to Great Brtaln's purposes concerning
Venezuela, is in Washington, having been
delivered to Sir Julian Pauncefote. the Brit
ish ambassador, tonight The answer was
brought to Washington by Donaldson, the spe-
cial messenger of the embassy who makes
regular trims to New York for the purpose OF
carrying the official mail to and from WASH
.ng IN Donaldson received the reply from the
stewards OF the steamship Britannia, on
which it arrived at New York at o'clock
this morning. Donaldson Immediately left
for Washington. The greatest interest CEN
ters here as to the nature of the reply which
Lord Salisbury has made to the American
secretary of state. Ambassador Pauncefote
said tonight that Lord Salsbury's letter
would be presented to Secretary Olney tomor-
row u