The San Francisco call., 1896-10-24
Probable Provisos by Which
England Expects to Estab-
liSh Boundaries.
vENEzUELA's CLAIMS R1GHTED
Territory Now Occupied by British
Subjects May Be Tranterred TO
Venezuelan Sovereignty.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 23.-The
British Embassador, Sir Julian Paunce-
forte, has lost no time after his long alb
Eence in London on resuming his diplo-
matte functions in Washington. Within
twenty -four hours of his return he had a
short interview with the Secretary of
State, after which Sir Julian called at the
executive mansion and left his card for
the President.
It was stated authoritatively that Sir
Julian's call to-day was merely one of
courtesy and that to some time in the
near future was left the formal confer
ences. which it is hoped on both sides will
result in the settlement of the Venezuelan
controversy. Subsequent TO the visit,
however, Sir Julian sent a bundle of
papers from the embassy to the Secretary,
including the long-sought list OF bona
fide colonists who had settled in the dis
puted territory previous to January 1,
1887. together with description OF their
holdings and the character of improve
ments they had made.
These settlements constituted substan-
TALLY the only point of difference between
Lord Salisbury and Secretary 0lney when
the summer vacation interrupted the ne
gotiations, and the forthcoming confer
ences are to be practically confined to
these points.
Lord SaIisburyis proviso was that the
boundary line TO be drawn by the pro-
posed arbitration tribunal of three was
not to include as the territory of Vene-
zUela any territory which was bona fide
occupied by the subjects of Great Britain
on the 1st of January, 1887. or as territory
of Great Britain any territory bona fide
occupied by Venezuelans at the same
date.
Secretary Olney's counter proposition of
June II. which Sir Vernon Harcourt sub
sequently referred to in Parliament and
commended as the solution of the diff
Guilty, was that either Lord. Salisbury's 8
proYiso should be stricken out altogether,
or there might be substituted for it the
following, provided, however, that in fix
ing such line, if territory of one party be
found in the occupation of the subjects or
citizens of the other party such weight and
effect shall be given to such occupation as
reason. justice, the rules of international
law and the equities of the particular case
may appear TO require"
1t Is stated that the revised suggestion
upon which Great Britain looks to a
speedy conclusion of the negotiations
deals with plan to affirm the titles of in
dividuals to the properly they have ac-
quired in case the contemplated boundary
tribunal decides to change the present
dominion of the ''settied districts" by
awarding the territory now occupied by
British subjects 10 Venezuelan SOW
ereignty. The extreme aversion which
Lord Salisbury has exhibited to possi-
bility of these settlers being surrendered
to the law and domination of Venezuela
led to the suggestion that England would
cooperate in establishing an independent
republic OF Guiana, comprising all of the
disputed territory.
The limits within which England might
consent TO make an agreement for full
arbitration would include a stipula-
tion that the settlers shall not be dis
turbed and that their possessions shall be
guaranteed to them.
Secretary 0lney's counter proposition
under this head is declared to be too in
definite, and a specific provision of pei
manency is insisted upon. The earlier
suggestion of England that in case of an
adverse decision of her claim she should
have the right to purchase these settled
districts, is stated to have been firmly de-
clined by Venezuela, With the concurrence
OF the United States.