New-York tribune., 1896-01-03

NOT CHOSEN, THE GENERAL VERDICT II
ONE OF APPRovAL-THE GOVERNMENT
NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE PRO-
cEEDINGs THE SESSIONS WILL
PROBABLY BE HELD IN WASH
INGTON. BIT 1T MAY BIZ
NECESSARY TO GO TO
VENEZUELA
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNr1
Washington. Jan. THE five men chosen ~
the President ito determine with sufficient Ger.
tainty for justification what is the true
divisional line between the Republic Of venez.
uela and British Guiana" inspire confidence
They are all men of high repute unquestioned
attainments and exceptional ability for con-
Quoting an inquiry such they are charged to
make. Public opinion. az voiced by men here
from all parts OF the country and Of the most
varied shades OF political conviction. approves
the choice made by the President The approval
is universal, or nearly so.
l. suggested. for instance that in order to
command "internationar respect. men only OF
International reputation ought to have been ap-
pointed. The justice Of such criticism turns
what - regarded by him who assumes the
role OF critic to be a reputation which deserves
a Justice the highest court in the country, Of
exdplomat of note. Of one Of the leading
members Of the New-York bar. Of jurist pre-
siding over a court inferior only to the Supreme
Court of the United States in jurisdiction. but
not in the magnitude or Importance Of the cases
tried before it, and finally educator. historian
and geographer. the president of one of the fore-
most institutions of learning I'm this any
other country-if the selection Of such tribuna'
does not inspire the respect Of the world. l.
would probably be vain to look elsewhere 70
mon with international regulations" bette
qualified than these are for the work in hand.
POLITICAL LINES IGNORED.
The political lines To have been ignore,
by the President in the appointment of this Come
mission With the exception Of Mr. Coudert,
whose Democracy IS tempered by a wholesome
contempt Of Tammany and Tammany methods.
and Mr. White who accepted diplomatic post
under a Republican Administration. but could
have continued to serve for another term under
its Democratic successor If he had chosen to do
So IT may be said that the politics Of the re"
naming three members have for all practical
purposes and for some time past been coorless.
That certainly may be said Of Justice Brewer.
who was an active Republican before he took
/
dent Arthur from which he was promoted to the
higher tribunal by President Harrison. and o,
Justice Alvey who in early life generation or
more ago was a Democrat with pronounced
convictions II is doubtful whether President
Gilman can be said to have any political bias
lie never has taken so far as is known an 40
tive part I'm the politics OF the day beyond die
charging the duties of citizenship. Political
lines having been eliminated. the prestige OF
the Commission no doubt will be the greater.
To CONTROL ITS OWN PROCEDURE.
There is authority for the statement that the
Commission will b. absolute master Of its own
procedure. fixing he time and place of its meets
inrs and determining for itself whether or not
II shall visit foreign countries. what class OK
evidence may be taken into consideration and
how Interested Governments may be repre-
sent.d before the tribunal This independence
of action j. deemed necessary To secure 10 tne
Commissions findings that degree OF weight
nd respect among other nations wnich VIII
watch it's proceedings with jealous eyes, whlca
can be attained onIy through a knowledge that
the body IL free from any restraint or opilga-
,ion tc the United States Government whicn
has created IT, This Government will occupy
the status of an exac. neutral in the proceed"
ings. The State Department will lend such as"
sistapce as may be required To facilitate the
work of the Commission in procuring 1ranspor-
tation for il on a United States warshp. If that
is desired and in supplying any records in its
possession which may be called for. But II VIII
nor allow itself t. be placed in the position OF
taking sides To the merits OF the cohtro-
versv between Great Britain and Venezuela;
il will not undertake 10 present the venezuelan
case nor will, it Zen endeavor to offset any
evidence leaning toward the British contention.
Therefore, the ,arious suggestions made to the
Department by individuals in this country as
to where evidence can be secured have been
ignored This matter is proper for the COM
slderation of the Commission, but is not for the
State Department.
1t is pointed out that in this attitude the DE"
partment is exactly consistent with its course
in the past From the beginning of the nego-
tiations with Great Britain touching the Nenez.
uelan boundary the United States Government
has expressly refrained from committing itself
IA n recognition of the justice OF Venezuelan o
claim and has limited itself strictly to the cone
tention that was proper matter for settle"
ment by arbitra ton Moreover, the attitude
which the Department has assumed toward the
Commission itself IL regarded as suftcient
negative To the assumption in Europe that
the United States Government proposed con~
stituting itself the arbitrator In this dispute.
for the Commission will be as independent o1
the United States Government as 1t Will be ok
any other Government
4 PARALLEL IN THE TRANSVAAl-
In speaking Of the Venezuelan question: an
authority on international affairs pointed out to~
day thatthe present hostties in the Transvaat
furnished a direct and most opportune paraie!
to the South American dispute The note OF ths
German Government TO Great Britain requesting
an exclamation Of Dr. Jameson's expedition into
the Beers territory and protesting against 1t.
ba Thought would tend to fortify the arguments
Of the United states in justification Of its action
rsgardinp the Venezuelan boundary. The condis