Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-07-23
ARBITRATION TALK.
THE VENEZUELAN CONTROvER-
SY.
Letters of Salisbury AID Oiney Made Pub
Uc.-No Definite Results Reported.

Letters of Salisbury AID Oinoy Made Pub
Uc,-No Definite Results Reported.
Washington, July 1.-THE cores
pondencc, which has passed between
the governments Of the United States
and Great Britain, respecting the es-
tablishment of a general system OF ar
bitration for the settlement Of any dis
putes which might arise between the
coun tries, and also for the settlement
by arbitration Of the dispute over the
Venezuelan boundary has been made
public In the shape Of an even dozen
letters, which have been exchanged
between Secretary Olney, Lord Sails
bury. Sir Julian Pauncefote and AM
bassador Bayard. The correspondence
is of real interest as marking sensi-
Bile advance toward the adoption be-
tween the two English-speaking ma
tons, of the principle Of arbitration rs
the means of settling disputes be-
tween themselves, but the persons VINO
have looked forward with hope and ex-
peciation to the speedy conclusion Of
the treaties embodying the arbitration
principle for the settlement OF either
or both of the great open issues De-
tween the two nations, are doomed to
disappointment, for at the date or ex-
change of the last note, one from Sec
retary Olney TO the British ambassador
here. dated within month past, points
of most vital nature in the case not
only of the Venezuelan question specifi-
cllly, but OF the general arbitration
proposition as well, were still the sub
ject of discussion, without much ex.
pecation of an early adjustment.
Notable features of the correspond
ence are the fact that, whereas Mr..
Bayard, by instruction of Secretary o.
ncy, proposed negotiations at Washing
ton respecting the Venezuelan boundary
dispute, Lord Salisbury broadened 1t
into n general arbitration scheme, fol-
lowing lead set by the late Secretary
Gresham in the spring Of 1895; that
Secretary Olney later insisted upon dis
associating the two subjects, evidently
fearing an entagling alliance otherwise;
that as to general arbitration, the issues
which still prevent an agreement are
the indisposition Of the British govern
ment to include territorial disputes
Slve when the addition of provisions
that, In the estimation OF Secretary o.
ney, will render the attempt at arbi-
tration nugatory because there are no
means of making the findings of the ar
bitrators binding upon the parties or of
removing them from the possibility Of
infinite appeals As to the Venezuelan
matter, specifically, the difficulty that
cannot be overcome In the refusal of the
British to subject to the action of the
arbitration, the territory upon which
British subjects have actually settled.
Imitation arbitration is what Secretary
Olney designtes Lord Salisbury's pro-
ject, while the British premier criti-
cises Secretary olney's plan as calcu-
lated to result In evils worse than war
In the institution of innumerable suits
to recover claimed territory.
London, July 1.-THE Marquis of
Salisbury laid before the House of
Lords to-day papers on the subject of
arbitration. His lordship said that the
negotiations between the United States
and Great Britain were not complete,
but that they are advancing amicably.
On the smaller question of Venezuela,
regarding which the United States had
assumed an attitude of friendly protec
ton, difficulties arose out of the fact
that Venezuela's claim placed two
birds of the colony of British Guiana
object to arbitration. The first thing
necessary was to ascertain the real
facts in regard to the controversy from
the history of Venezuela. When that
had been fully ascertained by a COM
mission, in which both countries had
confidence, he felt that the diplomatic
question which would follow would not
be very difficult of adjustment, but
even If they should be, those difficulties
would be overcome by arbitration. 1t
has been impossible to move faster.
owing to the absence of full knowl-
edge of the facts. The labor involved
would be enormous.
Proper machinery must be first pro-
vided In recent years the United
States had evinced a disposition to take
up the causes of many South American
republics. but this government had not
quarreled with that disposition.
Great Britain, his lordship added, had
taken similar interests in disputes re-
garding the frontiers Of Sweden, Hol-
land, Belgium and Portugal In study
ing the welfare of neighboring peoples,
1t Is necessary to remember that the
claim of such peoples may possibly be-
come matter Of arbitration and hence
that It is necessary to guard against
an obligatory system of arbitrnt tion.