The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-21

COLHLlISSIOu, 10 De represented DelUEG IL
by attorneys, and all of this with the
reservation that such representation and
appearance shall not be deemed an
abandonment of any rights or position
heretofore assumed. 1t has done this in
order that the proceedings of the COM
mission may not be said to be ex parte,
that the truth may appear, and that time
may be saved in the inquiry with which
the commission is charged.
The invitation goes in the shape of a
letter to Secretary Olney who has made
response, saying that he has transmitted
a copy of the commissions views to the
two governments concerned. These facts
came out after the meeting of the COM
mission today, although the letter was
drawn up and sent to the secretary Of
state at its last meeting, January 10.
THE FULL TEXT
of the letter is as follows:
"Ofice of the Venezuelan boundary COM
MISSION, Washington, January 10, 1895.
The Honorable 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 the
election of Hon David Brewer as its
mediate discharge Of its duties.
In so doing, it has, after careful con-
sheraton. concluded to address you on
the question of securing, as far as pos
sible, friendly cooperation and aid of
the two nations which are directly in
terested IN the now pending boundary
differences.
1T must have suggested itself to YOU.
as it has no doubt to the president, that
this commission authorized to ascertain
ana report the boundary line between
TWO foreign nations, bears only a remote
resemblance TO those tribunals of an in
ternationaI character of which we have
had several examples in the past. They
are constituted. by or with the consent of
the dlsputants themselves, and were au-
thorlzed by the parties Immediately con-
cerned to pronounce final judgment. The
questions at issue were presented by the
ADVOCATES OF the various interests, upon
whose diligence and skill the tribunal
might safely rely for ann the data and the
arguments essential to the formation of
an intelligent judgment Their functions
were, therefore, confined to the exerci~e
OF judicial powers, and they might fairis
expect to reach a result satisfactory to
their own consciences, while it COM
manded the respect of those whose in
terests were directly involved.
The present commission neither by
the mode of its appointment, nor by the
nature of it's duties. may be said to be-
long to tribunals of this character. It's
duty will be discharged if it shall dill
gently and fairly seek to inform the ex-
eeutlve office of certain facts touching
a long extent of territory, in which the
United States have no direct interests
Whatever may be the conclusions reached.
no territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT nor ma
lefla1 gam IN any form can accrue to the
United States. The sole concern of our
government is the peaceful solution of
the controversy between friendly nations;
I L& me 1ust and honorable settlement of
the title to disputed territory, and the
protection of the United States against
any Tresh acquisition in our hemisphere
on the part of any European state
1t has seemed proper to the commit.
tee. under these circumstances, to sug-
gest to you the expediency O. calling the
attention OF the government of Great
Britain and Venezuela to the appoint
mem OF the committee and explaining
both It's nature and objects. 1t may be
that they Will see q. way entirely con-
slStent with their own sense of inter-
national propriety, to give the committee
the aid that it is no doubt in their power
10 IurnIsh IN the way of documentary
proof, historical narrative, unpublished
archives or the like. 1t is scarcely nee
essary to say that if either should deem
1t appropriate TO designate an agent or
attorney, whose duty it would be to see
that no such proofs were omitted, or
overlooked, the commission would be
grateful for such evidence of good will,
and for the valuable results which would
be likely to follow therefrom
"Any act of either government in the
direction here suggested might be ac-
companied by an express reservation as
to her claims, and should not be deemed
to be an abandonment or impairment of
any position heretofore expressed In
other words. and the lawyers phrase
each might be willing to act the part of
an amicus curiae and to throw the light
upon difficult and complex questions of
fact, which should be examined as care
fully as the magnitude of the subject de-
mands. The purposes of the pending in
vestgatton are certainly hostile TO none,
nor can it be of advantage to any that
the machinery devised by the government
Of the United States to secure the desired
information should fail of its purpose. I
have the honor to remain.
Your obedient servant,
DAVID J. BREWER, President"
ITO Hon. Richard Olney, Secretary of
State
THE REPLY.
The secretary's reply was short and
formal, merely an acknowledgment of
the receipt Of the letter, and state
ment that he had caused copies of it TO
be sent to the British and Venezuelan
governments. 1t cannot be said that the
commission is confident of a favorable
response from both parties to the bound
airy controversy, although the courteous
terms in which the suggestion is couched
and the wide latitude OF reservation per-
mitted each party that may respond in
the open spirit which characterizes the
invitation leads to the natural hope that
it will be accepted.
Meanwhile, The commission will proceed
on the original line of inquiry, which
promises to be a slow anu difficult task,
trusting TO the abridgment of the pro-
ceedings later on by the production of evil
dence by both parties and the appearance
of attorneys, when the proceedings may
at once take on the form of judicial
trial, and the attainment of a conclusion
be CORRESPONDENCE FASTENED.
APPOINTMENTS.
Today's meeting took place for the
first time in the new quarters of the
commission in the Baltimore Sun build
ing on f street. The first business was
the selection of officers, and the first
of these chosen was S. Malet-Prevost,
who has earned high reputation at
the New York bar, and also in Wash
ington. Mr.. Malet-Prevost was named
as secretary of the commission and
will be in daily attendance with the
commission Mr. Whitmore OF Ithaca,
II. Y, was selected as one of the stem
ographers, and Walter Mouthrop of the
District of Columbia was appointed as
a messenger.
A few other appointments will be
made hereafter, as the need for further
help appears. 1t was ordered that the
rooms of the commission be kept open
every week day from until O'Clock,
and any person who has any suggestion
to make will be accorded an opportu-
nifty to be heard, for at least one of
the commission will undertake to be
present, besides the secretary. Every
Friday there will be a meeting of the
full committee in order to transact
routine business requiring the action of
all the members
The members will not be idle, for to
each has been allotted a particular line
of inquiry, which he is expected to re-
port upon to his fellow commissioners
at intervals. For instance. Mr.. White