Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-11-13
The Venezuelan matter.

When President Cleveland sent his
famous Venezuelan message to Con-
gress, last spring, the Journal very
cordially commended it. For the first
time in his administration he had taken
a distinctly American position. in de-
fence of the Monroe doctrine. His
vigorous stand won him the cordial
commendation of the whole country.
There was ample reason for the
belief that existed among the Ameri-
can people that England was deter
mined to wrest from a weaker Amer
lean power. a large extent of territory
to which it had no just claim. They
felt that this country could not af-
ford to abandon the Monroe doctrine,
and view, with passive Indifference.
the further acquisition of territory
upon the American continent by Eng
land, or any other foreign power.
Our government insisted that might
did not make right, and that the con-
troversy over the boundary line be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana
should be settled without further un-
necessary delay, and by methods as
fair and just to all concerned, as
might naturally obtain between ma
tions of similar power, and aggressive
strength.
The chief difficulty in the way of a
peaceful and equitable settlement of
this dispute was the unwillingness of
England to submit to arbitration any
territory in the actual possession OF
lection was met by Mr.. Olney with the
suggestion that 'it be a rule of arbi-
tration embodied in the arbitral agree
ment. that territory which has been in
the exclusive notorious and actual use
and occupation of either party for
even two generations, or any time. say
for fifty years. shall be held by the ar
bitrators to be the territory of such
party?
In other words, with Her Majesty S
government assent to the unrestricted
arbitration of all the territory in con-
troversy with the period Of the acQui-
sition of title by prescription fixed by
agreement of the parties in advance
at fifty years."
This proposition was. it is under
stood, accepted by Lord Salisbury.
This recognition of the common law
doctrine of prescription, as ap-
plicable to international disputes
marks distinct and an impor-
tant advance in the adjustment of diff
ferences affecting territorial rights
between nations. By the terms of the
treaty the board of arbitration is to
be composed OF two members ap-
pointed by the chief justice of Eng
land. two members to be appointed by
the chief justice of the United States,
and King Oscar of Sweden.
Naturally much interest attaches to
the fifth member of the board who
will hold the balance of power. Oscar
II, king of Sweden and Norway, the
Goths and the Vandals," is recognized
as one of the ablest monarchs of Eu-
rope. He is a man of democratic in
stincts, judicial temperament and en-
inent fairness. His relations are cor
dial both with the United States and
England, and there is every reason to
believe that he will be influenced in
his decision only by the equities of the
case as they shall be presented to
him in evidence. A great point in his
favor is the fact that he is thoroughly
ccnversant with the English language.
In view of the turn negotiations
have taken the United States Venez-
uelan commission will render no de-
cision upon the merits of the contro-
versy. but will content itself and will
confine it's work to the preparation
and orderly arrangement Of many val
| uable maps, reports and documents
which have been procured and used in
the course of its labors.