The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-21
THE COMMISSION.
Formerly Begins Its Intricate
LabOrS.

The Statement of the Commission to Secy.
Olney Which He Has Had Forwarded
to Great Brittian and Venezuela.
Washington, January 20.-The Vene-
zuelan Commission convened here today.
The selection of S. Mallet Provost OF New
York as the executive officer of the COM
mission was formally ratified. The COM
mittee gave out the following letter adj
dressed to Secretary Olney:
Washinton, January 10.
Ii Hon. Secretary of State.
Dear Sir-I have the honor to state that
the commission appointed by the presi-
dent of the United States to Investigate
and report upon the true divisional line
between the republic of Venezuela and
British Guiana, has organized by Tie
selection of Hon. David j. Brewer as
president, and is entering upon the
Immediate discharge Of its duties. btln. so
doing 1t has, after careful consideration,
concluded to address you on the question
of securingSas far.asspossible, the friendly
cooperation and aid Of the two nations
directly interested in the now pending
boundary differences it must have
suggested itself to you, as it no doubt has
TO the President, that this commission
thus authorized to ascertain and report
the boundary line between two foreign
nations bears only remote resem hlance
to those tribunals of international
character in which we have had several
examples in the past. They were consti-
tuted by or with the consent of the dis
putants themselves, and were authorized
by the parties immediately conc erned to
pronounce final Judgment. The
questions at issue were presented by ad-
yocates OF the various interests, upon
whose diligence and skill the tribunal
might safely rely for all data and argu-
menus essential to the formation of in
telligent judgment. Their functions were
confined to the exercise of judicial powers
and they might fairly expect to reacn a
result, satisfactory to their own con-
sciences while it commanded the respect
Of those whose interests were directly in
volved.
| The present commission neither by
mode of appointment nor by the nature
| of It's duties may be said to belong to tri-
! bunals of this character. Its duty is dis
charged, il it shall diligently and fairly
| seek to inform the Executive OF certa1n
| facts touching large extent of territory
| in which the United States have no
direct interest Whatever may be the
conclusion reached, no territorial
| ggrandizement nor material gain In any
form can accrue to the United States.
| The sole concern of our government is
the peaceful solution Of the controversy
between two friendly powers, Tor a just
and honorable settlement of a title to dis
puted territory and protection of the
United States against any fresh acquisi-
tions in our hemisphere on the part or
any European state.
1t seemed proper to the commission un-
der these circumstances to suggest to you
the expendiency Of calling attention of
the governments OF Great Britain and
Venezuela to the appointment Of the
commission and explaining its nature
and object. 1t may be they will see a
way entire ly consistent with their own
sense of international proprlety, to give
the com mission aid, and it is no
doubt in their power to furnish IN the
way of documentary proof, historical
narrative. unpublished archives, or the
| like. 1t is scarcely necessary to say if
either deem it proper to designate an
agent or attorney, whose duty it would
be to see no such proofs were admitted,
| the commission would be grateful for
such evidence of good will and the avail
able resources which would be likely to
| follow that information. The act of
either government in the direction here
suggested might be accomplished by an
| express reservation as to her claims. 1t
should not be deemed to be the abandon
ment or impairment of any position here
| tofore expressed. In other wosds and in
lawyers phrase, each might be willing
to act the part of "amicus criae" and
throw light upon the difficult and COM
| plex questions of facts.
| DAVID J. BREWER, President
To this communication Secretary Olney
replied, stating that he had oommuni-
| GATED the suggestion of the committee to
| Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am
bassador, and Minister Andrade. Vene-
zuelan representative for the transmission
| TO their respective governments. The
commission adjourned until Friday.