The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08
SECRETARY OLNEY
MAKES A REPORT
Material Upon Which the
President Formed Some
Views.
Settlement of the Long. Protracted
Dispute on the Venezuelan
Boundary.
An Interesting Review of the Strug.
gle of Cuban Insurgents for
Independence.

Cleveland refers in his message to Con-
gress states that 1.-the relations of the
United States with foreign powers con-
tinue upon that footing of harmony and
friendliness which has been their fortu-
nate characteristic for so many years."
The report summarizes the more i'm
portant questions which have occupied
the attention of the department during
the current year. OF the dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela it says:
The long-protracted dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela over the boundary be-
tween the latter republic and British Guiana
has for a number OF years past attracted the
earnest attention of this Government and en-
listed its official intervention TO bring about
peaceful settlement by the historical record
and the actual facts. The extended discussion
of the subject eliminated in July of last year
by an elaborate presentation to the British
Government OF the views of the United States,
touching the opportuneness and necessity for
final disposition of the points at issue by the
pacific resort of an equitable arbitration.
The EN- tire correspondence having been laid
before Congress with his message OF December
II, 1895, that body provided for the appoint
ment of commission of eminent jurisJs to
examine and report touching the ascertaina-
be facts of the controversy with a view of
InIS 10 ueleIIulne us
further course in the matter.
The commission has pursued its labors IN
remittingly during the past year, its re-
searches being greatly aided by the elaborate
statements placed at its disposal by both in
terested governments, toge Their with mass of
documentary evidence furnished from the
archives of the Eur opean countries that
shared in the early discoveries ana settlement
Of South America.
Pending this arduous investigation how
ever, the governments of the United States
and Great Britain have omitted no endeavor
10 a friendly understanding upon the main
issue through diplomatic negotiations, and it
is most gratifying 10 announce that amicable
councils have prevailed TO induce satisfac-
tory settlement whereby the boundary ques-
tiou and its associate disputes have been
eliminated as between This country and
England.
complete accord has been reached between
them by which the substantial terms of a
treaty of arbitration to be concluded by Great
Britain and Venezuela have been agreed upon,
the provisions OF which embrace full arbi-
tration OF the whole controversy upon basis
alike just and honorable to both the contest
ants.
1t only remains for the two parties directly
concerned TO complete this equitable ar
rangement by signing the proposed formal
treaty, and no doubt is entertained that Ven
ezuela, which so earnestly sought the friendly
assistance of the United States toward the
settlement of this contention and which has
ccpfided its interests TO the impartial judg-
ment of this Government, will assent to the
formal adjustment thus attained forever end
ing a dispute involving far-reaching conse-
quen ces to the peace and welfare OF the West
ern continent.
Coincidentally with the consideration of
the Venezuelan question the two Govern.
ments have continued negotiations for a
general arbitration treaty in line with the
British House OF Commons, to which previous
messages of the President have adverted, that
all differences hereafter arising between the
two counties and not amenable to ordinary
diplomatic treatments should be referred to
arbitration.
The United States and Great Britain having
given repeated proofs of their acqui-
essence to the e. eat principle evolved, not
only by treaties between themselves but sew
orally, by concluding like adjustments with
other powers for the adjudication of disputes
resting on law and fact, the subject was nat
urally approached in benevolent spirit of
agreement, and the negotiations have so salts
factorly progressed as to foreshadow prac-
tiCal agreement at an early date upon the text
OF convention to the desired end.
Under the head of Spain. the Secretary
in his accompanying report, which is, of
course. Endorsed by the President, speaks
of the Cuban situation as follows:
The situation in the island of Cuba has
largely engrossed the attention of the Depart
ment OF State during. the past year. It's efforts
to OBTAIN trustworthy information and to
insure due protection to citizens of
the United States and their property and in
terests within the theater of disturbance have
been ably seconded by the consular represen-
tatives in that island. As regards the char
acter and scope of the hostile operations which
now affect the greater part of Cuba, the reports
OF our Consuls are properly confidential, and
while precise ss TO the several districts touching
which reports have been received, the nature
and sources of the information obtained are
such as 10 make detailed publication imprac-
tieable, so that the DEPARTMENT is not in po-
sition to do more at present than state its gen.
eral deductions as to the position of the con-
tending parties.
Confined in the outset, as in the ten years
insurrection which began at Yara in October,
1868, TO the eastern portion OF the island
where the topography and absence of settled
centers especially favored the desultory war;
fare apparently normal to this class of con-
tests, the present instruction early took pro-
portions beside those of its predecessors and
herewith assumed an aggressive phase, invad-
ing the populous central and western districts
Passing the defensive lines, or troeha, trav-
ers1ng the island from north to south, formid-
able bodies OF the revolutionary forces early
in the year established themselves in the rich
sugar-planting districts of Santa Clara, Glen
tuegos and MatanZas, made hostile forays
almost in sight OF Havana itself, and adYane-
ing westward, effected stronghold in the fer
tile fields of Pinar del Rio, which has SO far
resisted all efforts OF the Spanish forces to
overcome.
No prominent seaport has been attacked by
the insurgents even menaced beyond oc-
casional raids upon the outskirts. large
part OF The 200 miles of the irregular coast
line of Cuba, prising the comparatively
unsettled stretches of its western extremity
and the inhospiiable mountain shores of its
eastern part, is practically in the hands of the
revClutionists.
The character of these shores, filed to the
westward with shallow lndenta tions inaceessi-
bic 10 any but light vessels OF small tonnage
and to the eastward with rocky hooks danger
GUS to approach by night and affording
insecure anchorage for larger craft, lends
itself peculiarly TO the guerrilla war
fare OF the interior, so that the insurgents
being relieved OF the need of maintaining and
garrisoning points upon the coast, are effec-
lively able to utilize considerable part OF it.
as occasion offers, 10 communicate with the
outside world and TO receive clandestine sup
plies OF men, arms and ammunition.
The situation in that quarter as regards the
ease OF surreptftious access and the difficulty
of REFRESHING Illicit traffic finds a not nnapt
parallel in that OF the Cornish and Welsh
coasts of English or the Scottish highlands
last century, where a few adventures were
able 10 smuggle supplies and land rebel ennis
saries or forces battling the watchers of mari
time forces much greater than those main
tanned by Spain along the diversified shores of
Cuba.
while thus in fact controlling the greater
part of the internal area OF the whole island
of Cuba from Cape San Antonio to Cape Maysi
and enjoying practically unlimited use of an
equally large part OF the coast, the revolution
airy forces scattering, being nowhere for
any length of time TO form an army capable OF
attack and siege and fiji TO take the defensive