The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-07-22

good opportunity for ono Of those tentative ex-
periments at arbitration which, as Lord Sails
bury Justly intimates, would be Of decided ad-
vantage as tending to indicate the lines upon
which d scheme for general arbitration can be
iudiciously drawn.
Sir Julian Panncefote on June had con-
ference with Secretary Olney regarding the
Venezuelan controversy and two days later
sent the secretary the instructions from Lord
Salisbury upon which his visit had been based.
In these, under date Of May %, the British
premier foresees the possibility OF failure In
the attempt to agres on the general arbitration
system and proposes settlement Of the Vene-
Zuelan dispute. A commission consisting OF
four members, two to be British subjects and
two citizens Of the United States is proposed
to report upon the facts which affect the rights
OF Spain and Holland at the date OF Great
Britain's acquisition OF British Guiana.
Upon the report OF such commission 1t is
stipulated that Great Britain and Venezuela
shall endeavor to agree on boundary but,
failing in this, tribunal was to be appointed.
one British, one Venezuelan and they to select
q third who should fix the line OF boundary;
but with proviso that 1t should not include as
Venezuelan territory any territory which was
occupied by British colonists on or before jan
uary |, 1882, or as territory of Great Britain
Mr. Olney, on July II, declared that his gov
ernment was unable to treat this proposal as
well adapted to bring the dispute to o speedy
conclusion or as giving due recognition to the
Just rights Of the parties concerned. Secretary
Olney adds: Venezuela is not to be stripped OF
her rightful possessions because the British
government has enormously encouraged its
subjects to believe that such possessions were
British In but one possible contingency Of
that sort could Great Britain have even SEM
bIance OF plausibility. II Great Brtain's as
sertion Of jurisdiction, on the facts of which
her subjects made settlements In territory sub
seQuently ascertained to be Venezuelan, could
be shown to have been In any way assented to
oracquiesced in by Venezuela the latter power
might be held 10 be estoppel from setting up
any title TO such settlements,
But the notorious facts Of the case are all
the other way. Venczueas protests against
| alleged British usurpation have been constant
ana emphatic, 0nd have been enforced by all
the means practicable for weak power to en-
ploy In its dealings with strong one. even to
the rupture of diplomatic relations. It would
seem to be quite impossible that Great Britain
should justify her asserted jurisdiction over
Venezuelan territory upon which British sub
lects have settled-in reliance upon such as
Sertion-by pleading that the assertion was
bona tide, without full notice OF whatever rights
venezuela may prove to have.
Secretary Olney declares that Lord Sails
bury's proposals can be made to meet the re-
| quirements OF the case only if amended along
the following lines: The commission to ascer-
tain facts must reach a result and cannot be-
come abortive and possibly mischievous. That
commission should have power to report upon
all the facts necessary to the decision of the
boundary controversy; including the facts per-
tanning to the occupation OF the disputed terri
! tory by British subjects.