Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05
RETURNS FROM VENEZUELA
Minister Andrade Comes Fack Sooner Than
Ee Was Expected
CRESP0 MAY DESIRE TO MAKE A CHANGE
Indications, on the other Hand. May
Point To II Complete Agreement
I'm Regard to the Boun-
dnry Arbitration.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Minstcr Andrade
seaport OF Caracas. on the 10th instant, ar
riying at New York about the 17th and COM
ing direct to Washington, to present in per-
son to MIR. Olney the position of the Vcne-
zuela authorities, 80 far as determined at
present, on the British-Venezuela settlement.
Mr.. James j. Storrow, who accompanies him,
Is expected to return at the same time They
went to Caracas for the special purpose of
laying before President Crespo and his as
sociateo a copy of the Olney-Salisbury agree
ment. Their proposed early return Is a great
surprise.
That they have determined to return at
this early day, without awaiting the assem-
bling of the Venezuelan congress, is con-
sidered indicative that their meeting with
President Crespo has developed some definite
line of action on the part of Venezuela. The
only information available at the State de-
partmcnt Is the brief cablegram announcing
the minister's early return This was sent
from Caracas on Thursday. From the cir
oumstance9 attending the mission of MegSrs
Andrade and Storrow, 1t Is felt that their
return means either one of two things, viz.
y satisfactory understanding or else desire
on the part of the Venezuelan authorities
to secure some change In the terms of the
agreement.
The complete silence OF the Venezuelan
officials up to the present time has been
a matter of considerable surprise and con-
lecture among officials here. The news
papers OF Caracas and MariCaibo, the two
principal cities, have been received here,
but no mention is made of the arbitration
agreement, although they date for about
week after the public announcement OF the
Of no Anparpptlv ia
only topic of discussion in Venezuela at this
time was the election Of a president to
succeed General Crespo who is ineligible
under the constitution for reelection. 1t
had been expected speedy action would be
taken to have the Venezuela congress pass
upon the agreement. Upon this, however,
complication has arisen The regular ses-
sion opens February 20, SO a delay until
then made ii unlikely the entire question
could be closed up before Secretary Olneys
administration of the state department
closed. This led to the belief among Of
hcials that President Crespo would call
special session of congress, but this devel-
Oped another complication. The constitution
of Venezuela provides that notice of thirty
days shall be given as to any extra session.
At best therefore, congress could not be
got together until the middle Of January.
Thus far no word has been received that
an extra session will be called. In any
event, any action by the Venezuelan con-
gress will have to be within few weeks
OF Mr.. Olneys retirement The distance
between Washington and Caracas and the
lack of facilities for ready communication
impose further restrictions on closing up
the settlement.
Aside from the action of the Venezuelan
congress on the agreement as a whole, 1t Is
believed the return of Senior Andrade will
make clear the position of all parties as
to the fifty-year clause, which is the essen
tial feature of the settlement. SchOmburgk
began projecting his line in July. 1S41, so
that If the territory within the line is to be
treated as occupied" the occupancy dates
back flfty-hve years and is five years more
than the arbitration agreement requires in
order to constitute lawful possession. From
the British standpoint this ffty-year clause
is most favorable to them, and it has been
feared Venezuela would take exception to
1t as affordng Il preteXt for the acceptance
of the Schomburgk line as final.