Evening star., 1896-11-11

King Oscar ii.
Monday, inasmuch as Lord Salisbury, the
British premier, was to make a speech at
Guild Hall. London, the same evening. 1t
is an annual event at which the premier
usually takes occasion to review :!ie status
of the most important international ques
uons. For this reason ii was desired, If
possible, to have Lord Salisbury make pub
lie announcement of the final and satisfac-
tory adjustment of the Venezuelan QueS-
ton. The plan was successfully executed
Essential Fentures of the Treaty.
Although Lord Salisburys statement was
without details, it is possible to give all of
the essential features of the treaty Just
concluded in Washington. The main point
as already stated, is that King Oscar ii,
whose full title is king of Sweden and
Norway. the Goths and Nandals.'' is the
fifth or decisive arbitrator. 1t was deemed
best to make this choice rather than to
leave it to the selection of the other four
artitrators. The latter are assured of te-
ing men of eminent judicial attainment, as
their choice is left entirely to the judiciary
of the respective countries.
Another essential feature of the treaty
is that fifty years actual possession Is to
constitute title. With this Limitation as to
the settled districts the entire sweep of
Venezuela boundary is placed in the hands
of the court of arbitration. The treaty
covers only Venezuela. and the question of
general arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain is left to future
negotiations. AS a king seldom leaves his
country, except on state visits to other
sovercigns, it is not expected that King
Oscar III will go outside of Sweden for the
meeting of the arhitrators, and the court is
likely to sit at Stockholm, the capital of
Sweden. where King Oscars palace and the
halls of the Swedish reksdag located.
King Oscar is universally regarded a
man of great attanments, of judicial tenn
permanent and of eminent fairness. Among
the monarchs of Europe he is probably the
& q freely
people and is thoroughly democratic in his
ways. He has long shown a most cordial
sentiment toward the United States, and
this doubtless had part in his selection.
General Thomas. U.S.A., and his brother,
Mr.. w. w. Thomas, late United States
minister to Sweden, each certify to the
kings cordiality toward America. AT an
audience at Stockholm King Oscar asked
with especial interest of General Thomas
concerning American affairs. particularly
inquiring to the Greely relief eXpedi-
ton, the status of the Mormon question,
dynamite plots, Ericsson monitors as an
implement in future warfare, the condition
of the negroes of the south and their fu-
ture, and the character and bent of the
American people.
While most cordial toward the United
States, King Oscar is not the less friendly
to Great Britain, although there are no
ties of Immediate kinship with the British
royal family. He is. however, warm per-
sonal friend of the Prince of Wales, who
visited him at Stockholm in 1888, when
royal elk hunt through the woods of Sweden
took place. His special ally is Emperor
William, who visited him last year.
The learning and judicial fairness which
King Oscar has shown in several recent ar
bitrations has led to the feeling that he is
pre-eminently qualified for the responsible
ity involved in his present choice by the
United States and Great Britain.
Two letters having an important bearing
on the settlement of the Venezuelan arbi-
tration matter have been made public by
NhnNy nv
lows:
fOte.
FOREIGN OFFICE, July 3, 1896.
Sir: have to acknowledge your excel
lency's dispatch, No 2OO of 18th of June.
inclosing a note from Mr.. Olney. in which
he explains the reasons that induce the
government of the United States to with
hold their assent from the proposals with
respect to the Venezuelan frontier con-
tanned in my dispatch, No. 130 of the 22d
of May.
The arguments by which Mr.. Oiney sup
ports this view will receive the careful con-
sideration of her majesty's government. l
am not now writing to you for the purpose
of discussing them. Ny object in address,
ing your excelency is to point out that In
a matter of some importance, Mr.. Olney-
owing, doubtless, to the inadequacy of my
explanation-has Inexperienced the pur-
port of the proposal which l had the honor
to make to him. He states that "it appears
to be a fundamental condition that the
boundary lines, decided to be the true one
by the arbitrators, shall not operate upon
territory bona fide occupied by a British
subject-shall be DETECTED in every such
case so as to make such territory part of
British Guiana
This was not the intention of my pro-
posals, and the language of my dispatch Of
22d May does not, l think, fairly bear this
construction. 1 proposed that the tribunal
should not have power to include such dis
tricts as the territory of Venezuela" but
I did not propose that they should neceS-
sarily he assumed without further proof to
be part of British Guiana only stipulated
that the ownership of them was not to be
decided by the tribunal, which, in our judg
ment, was Inadequate for this purpose,
though it was adequate for the assignment
of the unsettled districts. The settled dis
tricts shown to be in dispute by the in
qurieS of the commission, were to be dis
posed of by subsequent negotiation. The
claim of Venezuela Is SO far-reaching that
1t brings into question interests and rights
which cannot properly be disposed of by an
unrestricted arbitration. 1t extends as far
as the EsseQuibo; it covers two-thirds of
the colony of British Guiana: 1t impeaches
titles which have been unquestioned for
many generations. These districts must be
treated separately. and. until further in
Quiry has thrown more light upon the mat.
ter. 1t Is only by reserving the settled dis
tricts generally that this can be DONE
The view Of her matesty's government is