The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-25

UNCLE SAM AS MEDIATOR.

According to Walter Wellman's Wash
| 1nston correspondence in the Chicago
| Iines-Herald. the United States and Great
| s'iltilin are ON the eve of coming TO a
definite and amicable understanding in
| regard to the Venezuelan question. I'm
portant negotiations of an informal char
| acter have been going on between London
| and Washington during the last ten days.
with the result. it Is said. that Great
| Britain is desirous of having the United
States act as mediator in settling the diffi-
| Guilty In regard to the so-Called Ufuan incl
| dent, to re-establish diplomatic relations
| between Great Britain and Venezuela, and
with the prime and ultimate object An
view of amicably settling the boundary
dispute. Administration authorities are
| intensely pleased over the new and favor
able aspect the long-pending controversy
has assumed. Arbitration, the authorities
in Washington are now convinced, is abb
solutely assured.
-:II:-
For some time it was thought that some
third power other than the United States
would have to act as media tor in order TO
restore diplomatic relations between Great
Britain and Venezuela. In fact, relia BILE
dispatches from London show that Great
Britain was anxious to have the Brazil
government undertake the task of bring
| ing the two countries together. 1t Is also
| known that the Chilean government was
approached on the subject and when the
United States learned that there were OBJ
stacles in the way of either of these
countries acting in that capacity, efforts
were made here in Washington to have
the Mexican government assume the role
of mediator. A proposition was made to
have Mr.. Romero. the Mexican minister,
go TO London for the purpose of using the
good offices of his country to restore dip
lomatic relations between Great Britain
and Venezuela. All the countries con-
cerned We're sounded Cn this matter. OBJ
stacles were found In the way of accept
ing Mexico as a me diatOr. but the dis
cussion which enSued served good pur-
pose. 1t has resulted in a decision by the
British foreign office that the United
States is after all the proper country to
act as mediator The administration is
of he same opinion.
Jill
Just how far Secretary Olney has gone
toward patching up the difficulty about
the Uruan incident cannot be definitely
ascertainel. but &: is known that negotid-
tions are now in progress not only in re-
gard to that question. but in connection
with the boundary dispute. During the
last few days important dispatches have
passed between the state department and
Ambassador Bayard and between Lord
Salisbury and Ambassador PauncefO;e
Two days ago the latter hg long con-
ference with Secretary Olney relative
to the Venezuelan question. Ambassador
Tauncefote's call at the state department
IL is believed. was for the purpose of max
ing known to Secretary Olney the desire
Of his government to accept the good Of
fees of the United States. 1t is not def
nitely know just how Great Britain and
Venezuela are to be brought together. but
there is strong probability that Sir
Julian Pauncefote and Minister Andrade
will. through the efforts of the United
States he directed by tie governments re-
speciively concerned 10 undertake negotia-
tions for q settlement of the question In
dispute.
-.iI:--
No confirmation can he obtained of the
report that either Great Britain or the
United States has proposed a joint Eng
Iish and American commission, but there
are good grounds for believing that Lord
Salisbury has expressed Willingness
TO submit TO an International tribunal of
some kind any differences tha, may he
found to exist from the British side of
the case as ii will be submitted 10 the
British parliament and to this country
and the final conclusions of the American
boundary commission now sitting in