The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-07
vENEzuELA,s BOUNDARY.
A synopsis of the Agreement signed
by Olney and Pauncefote.

sent of Venezuela I'm the proposed treaty
of arbitration OF the British Guiana boun-
dairy dispute negotiated through the good
offices of the United States. and the prac-
tical conclusion of a general arbitration
convention between Great Britain and the
United States, 1t is said, will form two
Of the most important diplomatic an
nouncements in the Presidents message
to congress tomorrow.
What is understood to be In nearly all
essential particulars copy of the pre-
limlnary agreement entered into some
weeks ago between Secretary Olney and
Sir Julian Pauncefote on the Venezuelan
matter. is made public. The draft of the
proposed treaty ITSELF which the Vene-
zuelau minister, Mr.. Andrade, carried with
him to Caracas to lay before his govern
ment is more elaborate than this agree
ment 1t starts with a preamble of con-
siderable length, and in that portion which
refers to the iifty-year occupation of the
territory in dispute embodies other points
besides mere occupancy and political con-
troll, which will be taken into considera-
ton by the tribunal These are expressed
in technical terms which international
lawyers will understand. but which would
not be readily comprehended by others.
The agreement signed by Secretary Oh
ney and Sir Ju!Nn Pauncefote, runs sub
stantially as follows. Crhe language be-
ing largely informal, as for instance, the
blunt reference to the king of Sweden
without any of the customary terms OF
courtesy and full titles):
IAN arbitral tribunal shall be imme-
diately appointed to determine the boun-
dary line between the colony of British
Guiana and the republic of Venezuela.
F~fl l.ls
bers, nominated by the judges of the SUI
preme court OF the United States, and two
members, nominated by the judges of the
British high court of justice-and a fifth,
selected by the four persons so nominated,
or in the event of their failure TO agree
within three months from the time of
their nomination, selected by the King of
Sweden. The person so selected
shall be president of the tri-
bunal The persons nominated by
the judges of the supreme court OF the
United States and the British high court
of justice, respectively. may be judges of
either of said courts
3. The tribunal shall investigate and as
certain the extent of the territory belong
ing to, or that might be lawfully claimed
by, the United Netherlands or by the
Kingdom Of Spain, respectively, at the
time of the acquisition by Great Britain
of the colony of British Guiana, and shall
determine the boundary line between the
colony of British Guiana and the republic
of Venezuela.
4. In deciding the matter submitted the
arbitrators shall ascertain all facts which
they deem necessary to a decision of the
controversy, and shall be governed by the
following rules, which are agreed upon by
the high contracting parties as rules to be
taken as applicable to the case, and by
such principles Of international law not in
consistent Herewith, as the arbltrators
shall determine to be applicable to the
case.
The rules which are to govern the tri-
bunal have been broadened I'm the treaty
itself, but as covered in the preliminary
agreement. They read as under:
1.-Adverse holding or prescription dur
Ing period Of fifty years shall make good
title The arbitrators may deem excu.
sive political control OF district as well
as actual settlement thereof sufficient to
constitute adverse holding or to make title
by prescription.
2.-The arbitrators may recognize and
give effect to rights and claims resting
upon any other ground whatever, valid
according to existing international law,
and on any principles of International law
which the arbitrators may deem to be ap-
plicable to the case and are not In contra-
vention to the foregoing rules.
3.--In determining the boundary line, IL
the territory Of one party be found by the
tribunal to have been in the occupation
of the subjects or citizens of the other
party, such effect shall be given to such
occupation as reason, justice, the princi-
pies of international law and the equities
of the case shall, I'm the opinion of the
tribunal, require.
Advices received from Caracas do not
bear out the impression that the Vene-
zuelan cabinet Is dissatisfied with the
~ or Mfp4Qfar ADHroHa Ubn
viii shortly return to the United States,
will bring with him the draft Of a new
treaty, as modified by the Venezuelan au-
thorities. on the contrary there are
grounds for the belief that President Cres-
DO and his constitutional advisers have
given their fun adhesion TO me proposed
treaty Under these circumstances, II will
be signed by Mr. Andrade. representing
the South American republic, and by Sir
Julian, on the part Of Great Britain, after
which the United States will drop out Of
of the matter well satisfied to have been
the medium Of bringing the two countries
together and Of effecting a settlement Of
their long dispute through the peaceful
channel Of an International board OF arbi-
traitors.
1t was only in this way, II is asserted
on high authority, that such a conclusion
could have been reached. as diplomatic
relations between Venezuela and Great
Britain have long been suspended, and
it was well known that her majesty's gov
ernment would not consent that Nene-
zuela should have any voice in the se-
lection of the board. While II Is entirely
true that the ratification Of the treaty
must still depend upon the will Of the
Venezuelan congress, no. doubt. II is felt
that that body will indorse President Cres-
pos action.
In regard to a general treaty Of arbitra-
tion between the United States and Great
Britain, It is stated that the Presidents
message will show that the negotiations
are practically concluded, and that II will
be the Presidents pleasure within a few
weeks at the utmost, to lay the treaty
before the Senate for its consideration
It is substantially finished now. excepting
few matters OF detail that are still
the subject Of correspondence, but respect-
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