The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-05
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.

Secretary Olner Asked to Request Docu.
ments + ron, Venezuela and Great Britain.
The members of the Venezuelan Commis-
sion met at Washington for their second sas.
sion in their handsomely appointed tempor-
ary quarters in the building partly occupied
by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Justice Brewer presided. The selection of
Mr.. 8. Mallet Provost, of New York, rs the
executive officer Of the Commission was for
mally ratified.
The Commission gave out for publication
the following letter addressed to Secretary
Olney. inviting information from the two
Governments chiefly interested in the boun-
dary controversy:
"OFF1cE OF THE VENEZUELAN
BOUNDARY CoMM1ssIoN, :
"WAsHINeToN, D. c., January Is, 1896.
"The Hon. Secretary of State:
"Dear Sir-I have the honor to state that
the Commission appointed by the President
OF the United States ito investigate and re-
the Republic Of Venezuela and British
Guiana has organized by the election Of the
Hon. David j. Brewer as Its President, and
is entering upon the Immediate discharge Of
Its duties.
SIN 30 doing it has, after careful consider
alton, concluded to address you on the ques-
ton of securing, 50 far as possible, the
friendly cooperation and aid Of the two
Nations which are directly interested ID the
now.pending boundary differences.
"It must have suggested itself to you, as 1t
no doubt has to the President. that this Com
mission thus authorized to ascertain and re-
Nations bears only remote resemblance
to those tribunals OF an international
character OF which we have had several
examples In the past. They were con-
stituted by or with the consent OF the
disputants themselves. and were authorized
by the parties Immediately concerned to
pronounce final judgment. The questions
at issue were presented by the advocates OF
the various interests upon whose diligence
and skill the tribunal might safely rely
for all the data and the arguments es-
sential to the formation OF an Intelligent
Judgment. Their functions were therefore
confined to the exercise of judicial powers,
and they might fairly expect to Heach re-
suit satisfactory to their own consciences.
while it commanded the respect OF those
whose interests were directly involved.
"The present Commission, neither by the
mode OF its appointment nor by the nature
of its duties, may be said to belong to tri-
bunals of this character. Its duty will be
discharged II 1t shall diligently ana lalfly
seek to Inform the Executive Of certain facts
touching large extent Of territory In which
the United States have no direct interest.
Whatever may be the conclusion reached,
no territorial aggrandizement nor
material gain in any form can accrue
to the United States. The sole concern OF
our Government is the peaceful solution OF
a controversy between two friendly Powers
for the Just and honorable settlement Of the
title to disputed territory and the protection
Of the United States against any fresh ac-
quisition in our hemisphere on the part OF
any European State.
':It has seemed proper to the Commission,
under these circumstances, to suggest to
you the expediency of calling the attention
Of the Governments OF Great Britain and
Venezuela to the appointment OF the Com.
mission, and explaining both Its nature and
object. 1t may be that they will see way,
entirely consistent with their own sense OF
international propriety, to give the Com
mission the aid that 1t Is no doubt In
their power to furnish In tho way OF docu-
mentary proof, historical narrative, unpub-
lished archives, or the like. It is scarcely
necessary to say that IL either should deem
It appropriate to designate an agent or at
torney, whose duty it would be to see that
no such proofs were omitted or overlooked,
the Commission would be grateful for such