Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-07
SALISBURY'S REPLY
Sir Julian Pauncefote Read It to
Secretary 0lney.
ATTEMPTED SECRECY ON BOTH SIDES
Known to Be Adverse to Entire
Arbitration.
GPTED SECRECY ON BOTH SIDES
WILL AWAIT THE PRESIDENT

The reply of Lord Salisbury to Secretary
Olney's note of instructions to Ambassador
Bayard relative to the Venezuelan bound
ary dispute was delivered to Secretary Oh
ney at noon today. Mr.. Donclson the mes
senger of the British embassy, who brought
the doc ument from the steamer came early
to the State Department this morning with
a note from Sir Julian Pauncefote, the Brit
ish ambassador, asking for IN appointment
to see the Secretary. This was arranged
speedily for this morning, and Sir Julian
presented the note in person to the 5ecre-
tary, reading It's contents himself, pro-
ceeding tdat is followed only In the case of
Com,nunca ations of the highest Importance.
Secrecy on Both Sides.
For some reason the State Department
officials took steps to prevent the fact that
the note had been delivered from gaining
publicity, but without avail. At the British
embassy there was the same indisposition
to give any publicity to the proceedings.
All inquiry to the nature of the note
failed to secure response from any official
authority, and it will probably be preserv-
ed as an official secret,as far as the Wash
ington authorities concerned until the
President. upon his return, has had an op-
portunity to consider 1t and send it to Con-
gress.
Adverse to Arbitration.
In spite Of these precautiors 1t is known
as fact that the reply is adverse to the
proposition to submit the entire boundary
question to arbitration, requested by this
government. L: is known also that the
British government specifically declines 10
entertain any proposition for arbitration
that implies doubt as to it's jurisdiction
over the whole territory within the limits
of the Schomburg line, but is willing under
certain conditions to arbitrate the owner
ship of the territory in dispute beyond that
line.
Lord Salistury's note was delivered to the
British ambassador in this city last even
rg. 1t WRs brought from New York by
Mr.. Donelson, the trusted messenger of the
embassy. who makes regular trips to New
York for the purpose of conveying the Of
fetal mail to and from Washington. Don
elson received the reply from the stewards
of the steamship Britannia. on which it
arrived at New York at 8 O'Clock Yesterday
morning, and left almost Immediately for
this city.
Effort to Conceal the Fact.
Notwithstanding the meeting of the Brit
fish ambassador al the Secretary of State
at the State Department at nocn today
strong al ineXpIicabe effort was mads to
conceal that simple fact 1t was boldly
stated that Secretary Olney left his Office
early in the morning without having seen
ary callers, and that he would not return
before :; O'Clock. 1t is said hat this state
ment made to some callers, while the
Secretary was actually in conference with
the British ambassador in the diplomatic
room. Several newspaper men who inGuir-
ed after the Secretary about this time We're
Informed that he had gone down town to
do some Christmas shopping ard would
lot return until 8 o'clock at the earliest
The reason Tor this apparent duplicty is
rot known unless 1t was intended to con-
vey the impression that Secretary Olney
is not specially concerned over the present
situation of the Venezuelan affair.
Await the Presidents Return.
The British reply Will certainly not be
communicated to Congress in the absence
of the President, and that body Will be CT
fcially ignorant of It's character until the
President returns to the city the latter
part of next week, ana more probably not
until after the Christmas recess, as the
President may desire to communicate his
views on the subjoc. and may not be
able to Prepare his Message before Congress
takes its holiday 1t Is possible that the
Congress may be so impressed with the
Importance of tina situation that 1t will
omit the usual Christmas recess in order TO
give the President time to officially state
the position Of tho British government
He May Be Called Back.
Although it will be possible to commune
cate with the chief executive during the
progress Of his ducking expedition it will
be extremely difficult to do so with any
satisfaction if the matter is important Or
requires cOnIuentdl treatment. The Pres
ident will be within telegraph.c communica-
tion only at long intervals on his Journey
and when he Is actually on the hunt he may
be beyond reach for from twenty-four to
forty-eight hours at time
similar state of affairs prevailed last
winter. The American steamer Allianca
flying the United States flag, fired upon
by q Spanish gunboat off the coast of Cuba.
The President was hunting in the sounds
of North Carolina at the time and could not
be communicated with. Secretary Gresham
was indignant at the insult given to the
American flag and took upon himself the
responsibility of demanding apology
from the Spanish government. When the
President was Informed of this action on
his return to Washington several days later
he approved of it, but in such way that
it Is said Secretary Gresham declared that
he would never again assume similar
sponsbility, regardless of the provocation.
One explanation given for the Presidents
absence a this time is that he has been
already advised by cable of the general
character of Lord Sal.sbury's note. In
the unexpected event of the situation TAX
ing acute turn the President. will be
summoned to the capital with as little delay
as Is consistent with his whereabouts.
ArminE Military Bnndsmen.
BY direction of the Secretary of War