Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-24
The Venezuelan Commission Has
Reached a Conclusion.
IT Is ADVERSE TO GREAT BRITAIN
Tho Attitude of the Administration
Remains Unchanged.
CONDITIONS OF THE CASE

The expectation is that the Venezuela
commission will soon be able to moke their
report to the President. 1t is believed that
they have already practically come to a
conclusion, though it is subject to such
change as further testimony may suggest.
The investigation has been conducted with
great care and impartiality and in no spirit
of unfriendliness toward Great Britain. 1t
Is safe to assume from what information
can be had that unless some new testimony
changes the aspect of the case, the decis-
lon will be adverse to the claim of Great
Britain.
1t Is anticipated that his decision will be
such as to force the United States to main
tain the attitude assumed by the President
In his message to Congress, of resistance
on any territory in dispute until her claim
shall have been established in SOME proper,
peaceable manner.
The Administrator Attitude.
The attitude assumed by the administra-
ton was based upon a certain state Of
facts as they appeared, and was not sub
ltect to change unless 1t vas found on in
vestigation that other facts changed the
aspect of the case. The position of the
United States was taken deliberately, with
out any unfriendly feeling toward Great
Britain, and with a full appreciation Of
the consequences that might follow
An effort has been made through the
manner of conducting the investigation
and in the general attitude of this govern
ment toward Great Britain to convince The
British government of our natural friend
Illness and our purpose to do impartial JUS
tice in this case.
The expressions Of friendiiness by Mr..
Bayard ard by the President himself to-
ward England have been designed to con-
vince the people of that country that our
attitude in the Venezuela matter is in
spired by nothing but sense of duty. A
feeling Of friendliness is held not to be
Incompatible with firmneSs, and recent eX-
pie ssions of MIR. Cleveland are regarded
as intended, as far as possible, to relieve
from the appearance of hostility the at
titude which the administration will main
tain in this matter.
Solicitude for Salisbury.
Everything possible has been done and
Is being done to make it easy for Lord
Salisbury to meet this question in a spirit
Of accommodation. The understanding is,
however. that nothing has developed to
change the attitude Of the administration
but that, on the contrary, the investiga-
tlon by the commission, so far as it has
gone, has confirmed the administration in
the position at first assumed. The report
of the commission will probably restore the
case to the status of the time of the Presi-
dents message, with the exception that it
will be sustained by semi-judicial investI-
cation, and the British government will
nave had an opportunity to become salts
ned OF the sincerity Of the United States.
Not Seeking Trouble.
1t Is not said in a spirit of stubbornness
or bravado, but. in the nature of the case,
the more to deprive the question Of its Sc
rious aspect must come from Great Brit
tain, being satisfied, as it is believed that
Lord Salisbury must be, that this country
Is not seeking trouble, but is simply stand
ing on a principle.
Those who have been following the pro-
gress of this case attribute the reluctance
of the President to become involved in the
Cuban matter to his realization of the
dangers that still surround the Venezuelan
controversy, and to his desire not to be-
come involved in further complications