Evening star., 1896-11-14
ADMITTED AT LAST
An Agreement Reached Between
Great Britain and This Country.
VENEZUELA BOUNDARY ARBITRATION
The Paper Effective as Treaty
and Signed in Washington.
TERMS OF THE DOCUMENT

It Is finally admitted at the State De-
partment that an agreement has been
reached by the United States and Great
| Britain for the arbitration Of the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and Vene.
zuela and that the said agreement was sign
ed in this city on the 18th instant by Sec
retary Olney on behalf Of the United States
and by Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador on behalf of Great Britain
The instrument is not treaty, but is as
effective as one inasmuch as it practically
fixes all the essential features Of the actual
treaty. which is between Great Britain and
Venezuela-the two countries directly con-
cerned.
No Further Action by This Country.
The United States and Great Britain have
concluded their negotiation for the settle
| ment of this troublesome boundary ques-
ton, and the actual conclusion of the
treaty now rests entirely with the Vene-
zuelan government, from which no oppo-
siticn Is anticipated, in view of the fact
that it has been striving for this end for
the past forty Yeas. No further action is
required Of this government 1t is said, and
as the United States is not signatory
PARTY to the actual treaty the United States
Senate will not be called upon to consider
tHdt uOCuHlent. Inc United states has act
ed as the best friend of Venezuela in this
matter and has paved the way for an hon
orablt adjustment of the long pending diff
ferences between that country and Great
Britain.
According to information secretly given
| out by the officials of the State Depart
ment to intimate friends. but withheld
from the press generally up to this time
the details of the Anglo-American agree
ment are substantially have appeared
In the columns Of The Star and first made
| public by the Associated Press.
Terms of the Agreement.
Fhe agreement Is a short business like
ducument and sets forth clearly the
method Of arbitration and the position OF
| the United States in the matter. 1t bears
the title:
Heads Of proposed treaty between
Venezuela and Great Britain, for the set
! tlement of the Venezuelan boundary ques-
| tion. as agreed upon between Great Britain
and the United States"
The heads referred to are four in num-
| Der. The first provides for the appoint
ment of an arbitral tribunal, to determine
| the boundary line between Great Britain
and the republic of Venezuela.
The second head provides for the appoint
ment Of this tribunal to consist of two
members. to be nominated by the justices
of the Supreme Court of the United States
| two members to te nominated by the Bri-
tish supreme court of justice. and the fifth
| to be jurist, to be selected by the other
four: in the event of their failure to agree
the fifth member Is to be selected by the
King of Sweden and Norway He is to be
the president Of the tribunal. The arbi-
traitors to. be nominated by the justices OF
the Supreme Court Of the United States
and Great Britain, and may be judges OF
the said courts.
The third head directs the arbitrators to
Investigate all the facts necessary to de-
eide the controversy as to the extent OF the
| territory known to the United Netherlands
and the kingdom Of Spain at the date OF the
| acquisition of British GuiaEa by Great
Britain.
The fourth head provides that the arbi-
traitors shall ascertain all the facts neceS-
sary to arrive at proper decision, and be
governed in their findings by three short
rules. the most important of which pro-
vides that adverse holdings or prescription
for period Of fifty years shall make good
title; that the arbitrators may give effect
to the rights of settlers and that in es-
tablishing facts the ordinary rules of law
shall prevail
Final and Conclusive.
AS already stated. this agreement bears
date of November Il. 1895. and Is signed by
Secretary Olney and Ambassador Paunce-
fote 1t is regarded final and conclusive
SO far as the two signatory parties are
concerned and it will be the basis Of the
actual treaty of arbitration to be concluded
between Great Britain and Venezuela. Ger
tain other provisions are necessary to the
concl, sion Of the treaty however, such as
relate to method of procedure, time and
place of meeting. limits as to time OF de-
cIs.on, compensation of the arbitrators ex-
penses of the tribunal &c. The United
States will assist in the consideration OF
these details, but the parties to the treaty
will be expected to finally determine these
questions for themselves.
Official Statement In London.
The following semi-off1cial statement OF
the Venezuelan question was issued in Lon
| don last evening:
''MisapprehenSions appear to exist as to
the nature of the arrangements reached
between the United States, Great Britain
| and Venezuela. Having preferred to leave
the negotiations in the hands of the United
States. Great Britain agreed with the Unit
Ell States on the conditions of the arbitra-
| ticn. An actual treaty for this purpose will
be concluded between Great Britain and
Venezuela. But the previous agreement
| outlining the treaty's main provisos has
| already been made between Great Britain
! and the United States. and removes the
| uela and Great Britain in regard to the
terms of the treaty.
THE decision OF the arbitration court Is
| not expected until twelve months.
'Anent the term of years mentioned in
| the agreement 1t is admitted here that
| there are practically settlers on either
| side of the disputed line who have been
| there for over decade.
| ---->0~--------'