Evening journal., 1896-01-21
COMMISSION AT WORK.
Opening Of the Inquiry as to the
Shomburgk Line.
NOTE TOENGLAND AND VENEZUELA

They Are Informed That the Court IL
Open and Invited TO Furnish Evidence
and BE Represented by Counsel-Pre-
pairing Maps and Abstracts.
wAsHISGToN, Jan. 2l.-The Venezuelan
commission has invited the governments
Of Great Britain and Of Venezuela to sub
NIT to 1t all Of the evidence I'm their pos
session 20 further the work of the commits
sion, TO be represented before IL by attor-
ncys, and all Of this with the reservation
that such representation and appearance
shall not be deemed an abandonment Of
any rights or position heretofore assumed.
II has done this in order that the proceed
ings OF the commission may not be said to
be ex partc, that the truth may appear and
that time may be saved in the inquiry
with which the commission is charged.
The invitation goes In the shape Of let
ter 90 Secretary Olney, who has made re-
nponse saying that he has transmitted a
copy Of the commissions views 60 the two
governments concerned. These facts came
out after the meeting Of the commission,
although the letter was drawn up and sent
10 the secretary Of state at its last meeting,
Wednesday, Jan. 10. The full text Of the
letter is as follows:
"WAsHINGTON, Jan. To-
"The Honorable Secretary Of State;
"DEAR SIR have the honor TO state
that the commission appointed by the pres
ident Of the United states to investigate
and report upon the true divisional line
between the republic of Venezuela and
British Guiana has organized by the cleo
ton OF the honorable David j. Brewer as
its president and IS entering upon the i'm
mediate discharge of its duties.
"ln so doing it has, after careful con-
sideration, concluded to address you on
the question of securing, so far as possi-
bic, the friendly cooperation and aid of
the two nations which are directly inter
ested in the now pending boundary differ
enccs.
1T must have suggested itself to you,
as It no doubt has TO the president, that
this commission thus authorized TO ascer-
tain and report,the boundary line between
two foreign nations bears only remote
resemblance TO those tribunals Of an inter
national character, Of which we have had
several examples in the past. They were
constituted by or with the consent Of the
disputants themselves and were author
lied by the parties Immediately concerned
tions at issue were presented by the advo-
Gates Of the various interests, upon whose
diligence and skill the tribunal might
safely rely for all the data and the argu-
ments essential to the formation Of an in
telligent Judgment Their functions were
therefore confined TO the exercise of judi
cial powers, and they might fairly expect
TO reach a result satisfactory to their own
consciences, while It commanded the re-
spect of those whose interests were direct
ly involved.
Duties OF the Commission.
"The present commission, neither by
the mode Of its appointment, nor by the
nature Of its duties, may be said to belong
to tribunals Of this character. It's duty
will be discharged If it shall diligently
and fairly seek TO inform the executive OF
certain facts touching large extent of
territory In which the United States have
no direct interest Whatever may be the
conclusion reached, no territorial aggran-
dizemcnt nor material gain In any form
can accrue TO the United States Tho sole
concern Of our government is the peaceful
solution of a controversy between two
friendly powers. for the just and honora-
bio settlement of the title to disputed ter
States against any fresh acquisitions in
our hemisphere on the part of any Euro
pcan state.
1T has seemed proper 10 the commits
sion, under these circumstances, TO sug-
gest to you the cxpediency Of calling the
attention OF the governments of Great
Britain TO the appointment of the commits
sion and explaining both its nature and
object. 1t may be that they will see u way,
entirely consistent with their own sense of
international propriety, TO give the COM
mission the aid that it is no doubt in
their power TO furnish in the way Of docu-
mentary proof historical narrative, un-
published archives or the Ike It Is scarce
ly necessary to say that If either should
deem It appropriate 10 designate an agent
or attorney, whose duty it would be TO see
that DO such proofs were omitted or over
looked, the commission would be grateful
for such evidence of good will and for the
valuable results which would be likely TO
follow thcrefrom.
ANY act Of either government in the
direction here suggested might be accom-
panied by an express reservation as TO her
claims and should not be deemed TO be
an abandonment or Impairment of any
position heretofore expressed In Other
words, and in lawyers phrase, each might
be willing 20 act the part of an amicus Gu.
rim and to throw light upon difficult and
complex questions Of fact, which should
be becxamined as carefully as the magnitude
of the subject demands. n. purposes OF
the pending investigation are certainly
hostile TO none, nor can It be of advantage
to any that the machinery devised by the
government Of the United States to secure
the desired information should fail in its
purpose.
II have the honor to remain, your most
obcdient servant,
"DAvID J. BREWER, president. "
The Secrctary's Reply.
The secretary S reply was short and form
al, merely an acknowledgement of the ro-
ceipt of tho letter and statement that he
had caused copies Of it to be sent to the
British and Venezuelan governments. 1t
cannot be said that the commission Is con-
ldont of a favorable response from both
parties to the boundary controversy, al
though the courteous terms in which the
suggestion Is couched and the wide lati-
tude OF reservation permitted each party
that may respond and the open spirit which
characterizes the invitation leads to tho
natural hope that it will be accepted.