Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-21

washington, March 2O.-Great Britain
loses anu Venezuela wins. The famous
Venezuelan dispute will be settled adj
YerSely to England. Lord Salisbury
viii either consent 10 arbitration or ac-
cept the finding of the United States
commission, which In a few weeks viii
report to the president in Venezuela's
favor,
am in position to say that the mem
bers Of the boundary commission have
Informally concluded that Great Brit
aims case Is untennble. and that Nene-
zuelns claim Is a just one.
Unless some new facts come to light,
this VIII be the nature Of their decision.
l am also able to describe with ac-
euroy and positlvoncs5 the nature OF
tae negotiations which have been going
on between the Washing ton and Lon
don guVcrnmenta
Some weeks ago Lord Salisbury show
cd disposition to attempt settlement
of the Venezuelan difficulty by negOtia-
ton with the United States He had
already endeavorcd TO make terms with
Venezuela on money basis, and failed,
President Crespo rejecting his PROPOSE
ton.
Lord Salisbury then intmated to this
government his willingness to permit
the dispuute to 20 to arbitration, SO
FAR as the boundary line is concerned,
but Insisted that the question as 10
what was to become Of the interests OF
British settlers in the disputed terri
tory and what is known rs "the set
tied DISTRICTS was to be LETT as n sub
ject or future discussion. This pro-
posal was not formal but would have
become so Immediately upon its ac-
ceptance by President Cleveland
II was not accepted, however. Presl-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Olncy
declined to recommend to Venezuela any
nlun nf ufNNil ttrlf a
clude the whole subject and provide for
settlement of all the points at issue.
This government replied with a sugges-
tion that Great Braltain agree to place
before the arbitration tribunal the
whole question: SO that In case the YER
dlet should be against England the set
Tiers ana miners noH operating under
license from the British crown would
become subject TO the laws of Vene-
Zuela. President Cleveland was firm in
his lrsistence that II the territory
rlghtfully belonged to Venezuela all
licenses, privileges and control BELONG
Cd to her also
To the suggestion that the United
States would recommend arbitration ON
these terms, Lord Salisbury has as vet
made no reply,
Unofficial intimntlons, however, come
10 This government that England ex-
poets ultimately to submit the question
20 arbitration. the only obstacle In the
way being as to the disposition az tho
British settlers in case the decision
should he adverse to the English claim.
: = WIN he nj once seen that this is a
formidable obstacle, because these peo-
PIE have been Induced to settle In the
dlsputed territory under the impression
that they were under the British nag
anu snbject TO British laws. They are
nnturAUy dlsinClned to he forced IN
recognize Venezuelan authority.
~ venezuelan boundary commits
sion has already made such progress
~ IT'S work that II is able to form snrna
Iden as TO the merits of the subject
WIN which they are dealing. 1t can be
stated that the commission has come
70 the opinion, from the result of Tho
investigation already made. that Ina
nrltlsh claim Is untenable. and that
Ncnezuela's claim Ia lust one.
me British blue book, which was So
lhborlously prepared by n comrnissinn
or distinguished lawyers, is regarded
mere nor only as extremely weak. lint
us having been put together in n cara-
less ana sllpshod manner. Az mn iIirr
tratlpn or this there nre FREQUENT ex-
tracts given from original documents
instead OF printing these document. n,
run IN the Original Spanish or Dnteh
nR the case may he. Sir Frederick, pnI'
lock ana his assistants have simply in.
| tod
extracts from the originals.
Inc commission, properly enou,-,
WIN not accept these excerpts wIthont
Verihcation' and to do this IL MIN he
necessary TO send Malett Provost their
secretary' or some other expert To
europe TO make the examinations. This
| VIII take time and prcyent IN. co,,,I
mission from making its report as soon
as 1t otherwise would.
In diplomatic circles in Washington
u is Won understood that Great Britain
must agree 10 arbitration. The nd.
nitistraton proposes TO stand suuareIy
report OF the boundary commission IN
made, showing that England has no
shadow OF claim to the TERRITORY
over which she asserts Jurisdiction. the
Administration well understands thai
| even Those who opposed the admins.
Uauohs policy In the first instance