New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-21
THE COMBUSTION WANTS DATA
SECRETARY OLNEY URGED TO ASK THE
COOPERATION OF ENGLAND AND
VENEZt' Ella.
PRESIDENT BREWER WRITES A LETTER EXPLAIN
ING THE NEED FOR FULL IMPORTATION AND
EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE
DISPUTANTs VIII CONSENT TO
PRESENT THEIR EVIDENCE

ENItESSlNG lnE HURT. liAi I'M
DIsPuTANTs WILL CONSENT TO
PRESENT THEIR EVIDENCE
Washington. Jan. 2o.-The members of the Nenez-
uelan Commission met to-day at 1870 a. m In the
temporary quarters in the building partly occupied
by the Interstate Commerce Commission Justice
Brewer presided. The selection OF s. Malet Pre-
vost OF NewYork. the executive officer OF the
Commission. was formally ratified. Mr. Provost
was not present. but 1t stated that he would
take hold of his duties on Wednesday next
The Commission give out for publication the fol-
lowing letter addressed TO Secretary oiney last
week. inviting Information from the two Govern
ments chiefly Interested in the boundary contro-
vcrsy:
Office of the Venezuelan Boundary Commission,
Washington. II. c.. January 10. NY"
The Hon Secretary OF State.
Dear Sir: / have the honor to state that the Com,
mission appointed by the President OF the ! lt'u
l,eiona line between the Republic OF Venezuela
and British Guiana has organized by 'ile t'' 1
of the Hon. David J. Brewer as It's president ana
is entering upon the immediate discharge OF lts du-
In so doing ii has after careful consideration. CON
cluded 10 address you the question OF securing 30
far AZ possible the friendly cooperation ana ara OF
the two nations which are directly Interested IN the
now pending boundary difference 8, ,o
II must nave suggested itself 10 you, as II 10
doubt the President. that TINS 'o,'lmiSso,.
thus aut horizod TO ascertain and report the BOUNDARY
line between two foreign nations bears ohly re-
mote resemblance" 10 these tlnunais Vi a." M.
national character Of which We have had SEVERN
examples In the past They were constituted by o,
with Ire consent OF the disputants themselves. ana
were authorized by the parties Immediately con
cerned to pronounce a hnal judgement ne lu'S =,
tons at issue presented ny the advocates .,
the various interests upon whose diligence ana
skill the tribunal might safely rely Tor an me Iati
and the arguments essentlal 10 lh ioiiha'o' "a a..
Intelligent Judgment. Their functions were there
fore confined 10 the exercise OF Judcla' POW s
they might fairly expect 10 reach r,Sult sur
factory their own consci"nces. while II com
manded the respect of those whose interests were
The present Commission, neither by the mode OF
rs appointment nor by the nature OF It's duties.
may be said to belong to tribunals OF THIS character
Its duty Will bc discharged II II shall diligently ana
fairly seek to inform the Executive OF certain iacts
touching a large extent OF territory IN when the
United States have no direct Interest Whatever
may be the conclusion I,1cneh, no @ , az
grandizement nor material gam IN any FORM ca =
accrue to III" United States. The sole concern OF
troversy between two friendly Powers for the just
and honorable settlement Of the title 10 disputed
territory and the protection OF the United States
against any fresh acquisitions In our hemisphere
the part Of any European state.
1t has seemed proper TO the Commission under
these circumstances to suggest to you the ex-
pediency Of calling the attention OF the Govern
pointment Of the Commission and explaining both
It's nature and object. 1t may be that they will see
international propriety. TO give the Commission the
aid that II IS no doubt In their power - furnish
tive. unpublished archives, or the Ike. II Is scarce
~ necessary to say that If either should deem 1t
who's duty II would be that such proofs
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
thcrcfrOm.
An act Of either Government in the direction here
suggested might BE- accomplished by express
reservation as to her claims. and should not be
deemed TO be abandonment or impairment OF
any position heretofore expressed. In other words.
and in lawyers phrase. each might be willing 10 act
the part OF amicus curiae. and TO throw light
upon difficult and complex questions OF fact which
should be examined carefully as the magnitude
OF the subject demands.
The purposes OF the pending investigation are
certainly hostile to II be of advantage
to any that the machinery devised by the Govern
mont OF the United States to secure the desired In
formation should fail Of its purpose
DAVID j. BREWER. President.
To this communication Secretary Olney replied.
stating that he had communicated the suggestions
OF the Commission TO Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British Ambassador. and 10 Minister Andrade. the
Venezuean representative for transmission to their
respective Governments.
The Commission then adjourned til Friday next.
IT being the understanding that Friday IL to be the
business day OF the Commission. The only employees
50 far determined upon are the secretary Tor ex-
ecuve officer. sienographer and doorkeepcr
and messenger.
The Commission. finding that In New England
and elsewhere there collections of ancient
maps, desire it to be understood that any docu-
ment of tfs kind intrusted TO them for their IN
formation will be carefully preserved and returned
70 he