The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-08
Willing Witnesses.
VenezuelanS Anxious to Give
Their Testimony.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The Vene-
zuelan minister promptly cabled his
government this morning of the
boundary commissions appointment
and the names of its members. The
Venezuelan officials in Caracas had
already assumed that the commission
would be authorized by congress and
had lost no time in preparing that
coun.ry's side of the controversy for
the commission consideration. All
their evidence has been complete for
some years, but much depends on
whether the commission will decide
to visit Venezuela or to hold all the
sessions in this country. President
Crespo has notified Minister Andrade
to inform him as soon as possible of
the commissions decision Oh this
point, that there may be no delay in
submitting the Venezuelan case. The
documents are exceedingly volumin-
Gus and include a large number Of
valuable maps which must be sent
to Washington if the commission
concludes to sit here All these
documents are now in Caracas. but
ready for immediate transmittaI.
They could be presented to the state
department within 10 days Of the
notification that they are required
here.
Until that time the work of the
commission must necessarily be alto
gesher of a preliminary character.
If the organization of the body is
perfected, as it is expected to be
early next week, some time must
elapse before the American minis
ters at The Hague and Madrid could
secure and transmit copies of Dutch
and Spanish archives which are con-
sidered essential to an impartial
adjudication Of the opposing lcaims.
Venezuela is. however. prepared to
furnish certified copies of all these
documents that tend to prove her
right to the disputed territory and
perhaps Great Britain will consent to
supply all the other.
The probable attitude of the Eng
lish government towards the commits
sion evokes the keenest curiosity.
While it is the prevailing opinion
that it will embrace the opportunity
to state it's side of the case without
agreeing to be bound by the findings,
it is not believed that this can be
done without considerable delay. It
is understood that although the Eng
lish have accumulated all possible
eviience to support their claim to
the entire Orinoco region, they had
nev>r expected to be compelled to
produce it, and have not arranged it
in such shape that it could be prompt
iy submitted. 1t would not be sur
prising, therefore, in case Great
Britain should take congnizance Of
the appointment Of the commission, if
request should be received from
Lord Salisbury asking for sufficient
delay to enable his government to
prepare its documentary proofs.
In any event the actual discussion
of the merits Of the controversy can
hardly commence inside Of the next
two weeks and there is no possibil.
ity of decision for several months
if the investigation is to be made as
thorough as contemplated.
The FIVE members of the Venezne-
Ian British Guiana boundary COM
mission have not yet formally no;i-
fed the President Of their acceptance,
but Mr.. Cleveland had received as
surances before the appointments
were announced. that each gentleman
selected was willing to serve. 1t is
learned that no formal tenders of
places o., the commission were made,
but Justices Brewer, and Alvey and
Messrs. Condera. White and Gilman
were sounded as to their sentiments
with regard to serving and the Presi-
dent was fully cognizant of their
views. This possibly accounts for
the technical denials made by two
members Of the commission as to the
place having been rendered" them.
The selection of Prof. Gilman was
largely determined by his prominence
as a geographer The fact that he
has written life of President Mon
roe, in which chapter is devoted to
the Monroe doctrine was of second
ary importance in connection with
his appointment, as Professor Gilman
does not profess any radical views on
the subject. 1t is interesting to note
that Professor Gilman in his book on
Monroe takes the ground that the
idea embodied in the famous doctrine
d;1 NOT ORIGINATE with Canning. but