The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21
AT WORK
ALSO TO SEND ATTORNEYS.
4 Secretary Appointed and the Duties
Assigned to the Member--Aroffra-
ton Movement I'm England

mission. and to De represented before u
BY attorneys. and al OF this with the res
ervasion that such representation ana ap-
pearancs shall not De deemed an aoan-
donEent OF any rights or position hereto
fore assumed Il has done this In order
that the proceedings OF the commission
may not be said TO be ex parse. that the
truth may appear. and that time may Do
saved IN the inquiry with which the COM
mission il charged. The invitation goes
In the shape OF a letter 10 Secretary VIZ
rey. who has made Response, saying tnat
he has transmitted copy OF the commits
elon's views TO the two governments COZ
csrned These facts came out after the
meeting OF the commission today although
the letter was drawn up and sent to the
secretary Of state at its last meeting. Jan
uary Is. The fun tex Of the letter Is as
follows:
"Office OF the Venezuelan Boundary
Con mission, Washington City. January
T.. fsas.-To the Honorable Secretary or
Etate: Dear SRI have the honor 10 state
that the commission appointed BY the
president or the United States 70 investt-
gate and report upon tse true divisional
line between the republic OF Venezuela
and British Guiana has organized by the
election Of Hon. David J. brewer as Its
president and Is entering upon the iTnuc-
date discharge OF its duties. In 50 doing
81 has. after careful consideration. con-
cluded TO address you on the question OF
securing. far as possible, the friendly
cooperation and aid Of the two nations
which are directly interested In the now
pending boundary differences. 10 must
have suggested Itself TO you, as II has no
doubt to the president. that this commits
sion. authorized TO ascertain and report
the boundary line between two foreign ma
items. bears only a remote resemblance To
those tribunals Of International character
Gf nh Ne has hal al sV al IN
the past They are constituted by or with
the consent OF the dizputants themselves.
and were authorized by the parties imme-
diately concerned 10 pronounce final judg
ment The questions at issue were pre-
scented by the advocates Of the various in
forests. upon whose diligence and skill the
tribunal might safely rely for ali the data
and the arguments essential to the forma-
ton Of an intelligent judgment Their
functions were, therefore, confined 70 the
exercise OF judicial powers. and they
might fairly expect TO reach a result sat
isfactcry 10 their own eonsciences. while
II commanded the respect OF those whose
interests were directly involved. The pres
EFT commission. neither by the mode OF
its appointment nor by the nature OF It's
duties. may be said 10 belong 10 tribunals
OF this character. It's duty Wiz be dis
charged II 1t shall diligently and fairly
seek 20 inform the executive office OF Ger
tori in which the United States have no
direct interests.
Whatever may be the conclu-
sions reached, no territorial ag-
grand.zement nor material gain in
any form can accrue TO the United
States. The sole concern OF our govern
anent Is the peaceful solution of the contro-
versy between friendly nations: for the just
and honorable settlement of the title 10 DIS
puted territory, and the protection of the
Unicd States against any fresh acquisition
In our hemisphere on the part Of any Euro
pean state IL has seemed proper 70 the
commission. under these circumstances, to
suggest 10 you the expediency OF calling
the attention OF the governments OF Great
Britain and Venezuela 10 the appointment.
and explaining both It's nature and object.
IL may be that they viii see a way entire
ly consistent with their own sense OF In
ternational proprlety. 10 give the commits
sion tho aid that II Is no doubt IN their
power TO furnish. In tho way OF documcR-
tary proof. historical narrative. unpub-
lshed archives or the ike II is scarcely
necessary TO say that II either should deem
81 appropriate to designate an agent rs at
torney. whose duty IL would be 10 see that
no such proofs were omitted or overlooked.
the commission would be grateful for such
evidence OF goodwill and FOR the valuable
results which would be likely TO follow
therofrom- Any act OF either govern nnent
IN the direction here suggested might be
accompanied by an express reservation as
90 her clans and should not be deemed 10
BE- an abandonment or impairment OF any
position heretofore expressed. In other
words. and in the lawyers phrase, each
might be willing 70 act the part OF an am
icus curlae nd 90 throw light upon difficult
and complex questions Of fact. which should
he examined carefully. as the pending In
vestigation is certainly hostile TO none, nor
a. 4. -. -
chinery devised BY the government OF the
United States 10 secure the desired inf0r-
nation should fan Of its purpose have
the honor 90 remain. your ohedient servant
DAVID J. BREWER. President
'"ro Hon. Richard oiney. Secretary OF
State"
The secretary's reply Was short and for
nal. merely an ackn 1wlsdgment OF the 70
ceipt OF the letter and statement that Re
had caused copies Of II 20 be sent 10 he
British and Venezuelan governments. Il
cannot be said that the commission 5 con-
fidcnt Of a favorable response from both
parties 70 the boundary controversy. a.
though the courteous terms IN whish TIE
suggestion Is eouched and the wide latitude
Of reservation permitted each party that
may respond IA the open spirit which char
nctcrzes the invitation. lead 10 the natural
hope that Il VIII he accepted.
Meanwhile tho commission win proceed
on the original tire osinquiry. which prom
ises 10 10 = slow and difficult task. trust
Ing 10 the ahridgmept OF the proceeding
later by tho production OF evidence by both
parties and the appearance OF attorneys.
when the proceedings may at once take on
the form Of judicial trial. and tho attain
ruent 81 n conclusion Dc corrcsTondingly
FASTENED. Today's meeting took place f0r
TIRE first tine In tho new quarters OF TIE
commission IN the Baltimore sun building.
on = street.
The first business was the selection ~ or
fcers. and the first of these chosen was :.
Malet- Provost WHO has earned higA
reputation a. the New York hAr. and also
IN Washington city. MT MRlet- Provost
was named as sesretary Of the comm ssion.
and VIII sc IN daily attendance with the
commission. Mr. Whitemore, Of ithaca. y.
Y. was selected as one OF the stenogra PHI
ers. and Walter Mouthrop. % the District
az Columbia. was appointed as . rucssen-
ger A few ether appointments VIII -
made hereaf ter. as the need for further
help appears. IL Vas ordered tHat the
rooms 81 the Tnrnis}ou b. Kept open every
week CAV from o'clock until O'Clock. az ]
any person who has any suggestion 20
make VIII be accorded an opportunity 90
he hoard for 81 least enc % the commits
sloners viii undertake 20 be present. be-
sides the secretary. Every Friday where
Will be q meeting % the FAN commission
tn order 10 transact rcuttre business tcquir-
ing the action 81 al the members The
members will not be t8le. fcr each has beeu
allotted a particular line % Inquiry. W h{cA
he - expected - report uron % us fellow
coruYnl sstersrs AZ intervals. For Instance,
MI White has been charged with the prv-
paratlen q What may he hkened 20 an ah-
Ftract OF title; Afr. Gilman has uu6ertskc q
-. .,,-a.. - F4an ~ al fNn mans ana KS -,