The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-03
COMMISSION.
TO BE ABSOLUTE MASTER OF ITS
OWN PROCEDURE.
The State Department will Furnish any
information But Will Not
Take Sides.

Take Sides.
Washington, ID. C., Jan. at is au-
| thoritatively stated, in behalf of the
administration that the Venezuelan
Commission will be absolute master of
its own procedure, fixing the time and
place of it's meetings, and determining
for itself whether or not it shall visit
foreign countries; what class of evil
dence may be taken into consideration,
and how interested governments may
be represented before the tribunal.
This independence of action is deemed
necessary to secure the commission &
findings that degree of weight and re-
spect among other nations that can be
attained only through IA knowledge
that the body is free from any re-
straint of obligation to the govern
ment which created it.
The State Department will lend it
such assistance as may be required to
facilitate the work of the commission
in procuring transportation for it, on a
warship if that is desired, and in sup
plying any records in it's possession
that may be called for. But, it will not
allow itself TO be placed in the posi-
tion of taking sides as to the merits
of controversy between Great Britain
and Venezuela; it will not undertake
to present the Venezuela case, nor will
it even endeavor to offset any evidence
that leans towards the British con-
tention.
The personnel of the Venezuelan COM
mission was commended to-day by
members of the House who take par
ticular interest in international mat
ters regardless of party affiliations. The
gentlemen selected were considered
entirely competent to conduct what
the President in his message express
ed a wish fora boundary examina-
ton of the evidence relating to the
boundary. 1t was also pointed out
that while several members of the
commission had participated in pol
itics none can be considered parti-
san at this time. SO that so far as our
domestic affairs are concerned they
would not be likely to enter upon their
work with any party ends to serve.
In speaking of the Venezuelan ques-
ton and authority upon international
affairs it is pointed out that the pres
ent hostilities in the Transvaai furnish
direct and most opportune parallel
to the South American dispute. The
note of the German government to
Great Britain requesting an explana-
tion of Janison's expedition into the
Beers territory and protesting against
it, il is thought, would tend to fortify
the arguments Of the United States in
justification of its action regarding
the Venezuelan boundary. The condi-
tions of the two cases are not unlike.
The Transvaal is "a nominaily inde-
pendent Republic and Germany does
not claim to maintain protectoTate
over il any more than the United
States over Venezuela, yet Germany
assumed right TO Interfere to check
British aggressions.
Now can the German government
claim that it's own safety is in any way
menaced by any steps which the Eng
lish might take against the Beers; it
can only assert a right TO interfere on
the ground that it's interests are in
yolved which is thuoght by many
to be the only tenable ground upon
which this government can base it's
right TO be considered party to the
dispute between Venezuela and Il
British dependency. There is no doubt
that proceedings in the Transyaal will
have an interest for this government
which they otherwise would not be-
cause of their possible application TO
the Venezuelan boundary correspond
ence.
The present expectation is that the
first meeting of the Venezuelan boun-
Diary commission will be held at the
State Department next Saturday. All
the members of the body, with the ex-
ception of Commissioner White, have
signified their ability to be here by
that time The latter will not reach
the city before Tuesday, and there is
a possibility that the first meeting
may be deferred until that day, though
this is not likely. The members have
not yet received their commissions,
and hence it is not positively known
who will be the chairman, although
the presumption is that Justice
Brewer, having been the first named,
will have that honor.