The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-01-25
venezuelan Commission Invites
Both Governments.
IN A VERY COURTEOUS LETTER
Realizes That IT'S Position Is Almost
without Parallel in the Law
of Nations.

Ian commission mas luNlteu lhS 6OF
ernments Of Great Britain and Venezue-
la to submit to it all of the evidence
in their possession to further the work
of the commission, to be represented
before it by attorneys, and all OF this
with the reservation that such repre-
sentation and appearance shall not be
deemed an abandonment of any rights
or position heretofore assumed. 1t has
done this in order that the proceedings
of the commission may not be SAID TO
be ex parUe, unat the truth may APP
pear. and that time may be saved in
the inquiry with which the commission
is charged. The invitation is in the
shape of a letter to Secretary Olney,
who has made a response, saying that
he has transmitted a copy Of the COM
missions views to the two govern
ments concerned. These facts came out
after the meeting of the commission
today, although the letter was drawn up
and sent to the secretary of state at its
last meeting, January 10.
The full text Of the letter is as fol-
lows:
"Ohice of the Venezuelan Boundary
Commission. Washington, Jan. 49, 1885,
The Honorable Secretary of State-Dear
Sir: 1 have the honor to state that the
commission appointed by the president Oh
the United States to investigate ana re-
port upon the true divisional line between
the republic of Venezuela and British
Guiana has organized by the election of
Hon. David j. Brewer as its president and
is entering upon the immediate discharge
of it's duties. 1t has concluded AFTER
careful consideration to address you on
the question of securing as far as posi-
ba friendly CO-OnaratiOn and aid oil
the two nations which are directly inter-
ested in the now pending boundary diner
ences. 1t must have suggested itself 10
you, as it has no doubt to the president,
that this commission, authorized to ascer-
tain and report the boundary line between
two foreign nations, bears only remote
resemblance to those tribunals of inter-
national character of which we have had
several examples in the past. They are
constituted by or with the consent OF the
disputants themselves and were author
ICED by the parties Immediately concerned
to pronounce final judgment. The ques-
lions at issue were presented by the advo-
Gates of the various interests. upon whose
diligence and skill the tribunal might safe
ly rely for all the data and the argu-
ments essential to the formation of an
intelligent judgment. Their functions
were, therefore, confined to the exercise
of judicial powers and they might fairly
expect to reach result satisfactory to
their own consciences, while it command
ed the respect of those whose interests
We're directly involved.
1.-The present commission, neither by the
mode of its appointment, nor by the ma
ture of its duties may be said to belong to
tribunals of this character. It's duty will
be discharged if it shall diligently and
fairly seek to inform the executive office
of certain facts touching a long extent oil
territory, in which the United States have
I d 1s..
conclusions reached, no territorial ag-
grandizement or material gain in any
form can accrue to the United States. The
sole concern of our government is the
peaceful solution of the controversy be-
tween friendly nations for the just and
honorable settlement of the title to dis
puted territory, and the protection of the
United States against any fresh acqusi-
ton in our hemisphere on the part of any
European state. 1t has seemed proper to
the committee 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 committee and explaining both its
nature and object. 1t may be that they
will see a way entirely consistent with
their own sense of international propri-
ETY. to give the committee the aid that il
is no doubt in their power to furnish in
the way of documentary proof historical
like. 1t is scarcely necessary to say that
If either should deem it appropriate TO des-
ignate an agent or attorney whose duty
1t would be to see that no such proofs
were omitted, or overlooked. the commits
sion would be grateful for such evidence
of good will, and for the valuable results
which would be likely to follow there
from.
ANY act of either government in the di-
rection here suggested might be accom-
panied by an express reservation as to
her claims and should be deemed to be
an abandonment or impairment of any po-
siton heretofore expressed. In other
words, and in the lawyers phrase, each
might be willing to act the part of an
amicus curiae and to throw the light up
on difficult and complex questions of fact,
which should be examined as carefully as
the magnitude of the subject demands.
The purposes of the pending investigation
are certainly hostile to none, nor can it
be Of advantage to any that the machin-
cry devised by the government of the
United States to secure the desired infor-
nation should fail of its purpose. I have
the honor to remain your obedient SER
want, DAVID J. BREWER, Pres.
ITO Hon. Richard Olney. Secretary of
State"
The secretary's reply was short and
formal merely an Acknowledgment of
the receipt of the letter and a state
ment that he had caused copies of it to
be sent to the British and Venezuelan
governments
1t can not be said that the commits
sion is confident of a favorable response
from both parties to the boundary con-
troversy, although the courteous tones
in which the suggestion is couched and
the wide latitude permitted each party
that may respond in the open spirit
which characterizes the invitation leads