The news & observer., 1896-12-29
THE VENEZUELAN TREATY
Secretary Olney and Sir Julian paunce-
fote 3Iaye Made the Final Draft.

fote Have Made the Final Draft.
Washington u. c., Dec. 2S-Sec.
retary Olncy left the State Depart
mcnt at 3welve o'clock to-day and went
direct to the British Embassy, where he
held a long conference by appointment
with Sir Julian Pauncefote the British
Ambassador, relative to the status Of the
Venezuelan settlement and the general
treaty Of arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain. Mr.. Olney' s
call followed the arrival OF Minister An
drade, Of Venezuela, and Mr.. James J.
Storrow, counsel in the Venezuelan case,
who reached Washington late last even
ing. The results Of the conference were
guarded with the usual secrecy which
prevails at meetings between the Secreta-
ry and the Amba ssadOr, but there is good
reason to: believe it was the occasion for
going over several news phases Of the
Venezuelan question, which have deYel-
oped with the return Of the officials from
Caracas.
/ The officials themselves are extremely
! reticent and will say only in general terms
that the prospects Of an acceptance Of the
settlement by Venezuela is good. 1t is
I understood, however, that there are inn
portant Limitations to this acceptance
which appear to make the case less hope
full of an ;mmediate and satisfactory con
clusion than has been expected. The
plan of an extra session of the Venezue-
Ian Congress has been practically aban
doned When the settlement was made
in Washington two months ago little
doubt existed that an extra session would
be called Immediately by President Cres-
po.
Messrs.. Andrade and Storrow left for
Caracas TO urge President Crespo and the
government authorities to secure an inn
mediate acceptance. On arrival at Cara
cas- Mr. AndTade cabled Secretary Olney
that President Crespo would call an eX-
ira session soon. This was received with
satisfaction at the State Department as
an evidebce that Venezuela would act
promptly: Since then, however, no call
for an extra session has been issued
1t has developed also that a strong
sentiments existed against an extra ses-
sion coming only a short time before the
regular session Of February 20. As
thirty days must ciapse after the notice
Of an extra session the Congress could
not possibly convene before February l,
or there ab0uts Under these circum-
SiauCes II - particularly SGlllcu lIdL
there will be no extra session, but that
the regular session will be advanced
twenty days under custom prevailing in
Venezuela. The Congress meets for two
months, according to the law, but usually
it has been extended twenty days beyond
the two uaonths. 1t is felt that this ex-
tension might be added to the beginning
Of the session with the same propriety
as TO the. end Of the session. For this
reason the present outlook Is that the
Venezuelan authorities will convene Con
gress on February /, or twenty days
ahead of The usual time. This will give
a regular: session without the extra ex
pense and: confusion Of an extraordinary
session
There appears also to be much question
as to the: nature Of Nenezuela's accep-
tance President Crespo and the govern
ment authorities have expressed satisfac-
ton with The general results of the settle
ment so far as they secured arbitration,
yet they have not yet expressed official
approval of all the details Of the settle
ment. On the contrary there seems to be
a very earnest desire at Caracas for more
exact information on the terms OF the
treaty between Venezuela and Great
Britain. AVhen the settlement was made
at Washington a rough draft Of the gen
eraI features of the settlement was made.
This contemplated the subsequent negO-
tiatiOn Of an arbitration treaty between
Great Britain and Venezuela on the
general lines prescribed by the settle
ment But the Venezuela authorities pre-
fer to see the treaty itself, instead Of an
agreement for treaty, and the present
indications are that Venezuela will give
no acceptance until the entire phraseology
of the treaty with all it's terms and quail
fications is completed. This may take
considerable time. The general expecta-
tion was that Venezuela would first ac-
cept the proposed method of sediment.
Then diplomatic relation between Great
Britain ard Venezuela would follow as
matter of course. When these relations
were re-e5tablished the British Minister
at Caracas could readily take up the
negotiations Of the proposed arbitration
treaty. At present, however, there is no
disposition to await the gradual maturing
of this complete treaty and it is little
short of settled that the treaty will have
to be forthcoming and all the incidental
negotiations closed before. The desired
Venezuelan ratification is secured.
In official and diplomatic circles there
continues TO be satisfactory and hopeful
that all obstacles will be cleared away
in time ana there is a disposition to mini
mize obstacles as being under the head
of minor details. At the same time the
practical abandonment Of the extra ses-
sion Of the Venezuelan Congress, and the
disposition: to close all negotiations on the
final treaties before an acceptance is
given, do not increase the prospects Of a
speedy conclusion Of the case.
On the question of general arbitration
between the United States and Great
Britain MFR. Olney and Sir Julian have
made their final draft of the treaty and
it is in the hands of Lord Salisbury
awaiting his approval No doubt exists
Of it's approval and it is expected to come
daily. 1t had not arrived when Mr. |
Olney conferred with the Ambassador !
to-day.