The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-11
ARBITRATION IT IS
DETAILS OF THE TREATY COVER
ING THE VENEZUELAN BOUND
AIRY DISPUTE.
KING OSCAR AN ARBlTER.
DECISIVE VOTE WILL BE CAST BY
THE MONARCH OF
SWEDEN.
LIMIT FIXED AT FIFTY YEARS.
Where Possession for That Time Can
Be shown 1t Carries Conclusive
Proof of Title.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The king
of Sweden and Norway, Oscar H., has
been chosen by treaty between the
United States and Great Britain as the
fifth official arbitrator of the Vene-
Zuelan boundary question. The other
four arbitrators are to be designated,
two by the lord chief justice of Eng
land and two by the chief Justice of
the United States. This is the final and
most important feature of the treaty
for the complete adjustment of the
long pending Venezuelan controversy.
The treaty was concluded in Washing
ton last night at the British embassy,
Sir Julian Pauncefote representing her
Britannia majesty and Secretary Olney
the United States.
Since the return of Sir Julian from
London three weeks ago negotiations
toward a final settlement have been
proceeding. Most of the meetings were
of such an important character that
they were held either at Mr.. Olney's
residence or at the British embassy,
the two houses being but two blocks
separated. 1t happened that the con-
cluding meeting was at the embassy
yesterday, and special interest was
given to it from the fact that Lord
Salisbury, the British premier was to
make a speech at Guild hall, London,
in the evening. 1t is the annual event
at which the premier usually takes oc-
casion to review the status of the most
important international questions. For
this reason it was desired, If possible,
to acquaint Lord Salisbury of the final
and satisfactory adjustment of the
Venezuelan question, in order that he
might make such announcement as he
thought fit concerning it.
When Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
reached their final conclusion, a cable
gram was at once dispatched to Lord
Salisbury, notifying him of the result.
1t reached him within one hour of the
time when he went on the platform at
Guild hall, and it was the basis of his
announcement to England and to the
entire world that the Venezuelan con-
troVersy Was settled. 1t was a general
announcement without detail and with
out any reference to the personnel of
the court Of arbitration
Thus washington and London par
t1cipated in this eventful scene, by
which the two leading English-speak-
ing nations reach an amicable means os
adjusting the most troublesome inter
national question of recent years. AL
though Lord Salisbury's statement was
without details, it is possible to give
all Of the essential featurS~ of the
treaty concluded in Washington last
night. It was deemed best to make
the choice Of King Oscar II. as the
fifth or decisive arbit TRAITOR, rather
than to leave it to the selection of
the other four arbitrafors.
The other essential feature Of the
treaty is that fifty years actual pos
n hi
limitation as to the settled districts,
the entire sweep of the Venezuela
boundary is placed in the hands of the
court of arbitration. The treaty COW
erS only Venezuela and the question of
general arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain is left to fu-
ture negotiations.
It is not expected that King Oscar
will go outside of Sweden for the
arbitrators, and the court, therefore,
is likely to sit in Stockholm, the capt.
tai of that country. Among the mon
archs Of Europe King Oscar II. is
probably the most popular, as he goes
freely among the people, and is thor
oughly democratic in his ways, besides
being universally regarded as a man of
great attainments and eminent fair
ness. The feeling entertained for him
is shown by the fact that the Scandi-
navian residents of the United States
buy him a present on the celebration
of his sixty-ffth birthday. He is
known as 'The Giant King" as he
stands six feet three inches in height.
He has long shown most cordial SEN
timent toward the United States, and
this doubtless had a part in his Sc
lection. While most cordial towards
the United States King Oscar is not
the less friendly toward Great Britain.
Although there are no ties Of immedi-
ate kinship with the British royal
family, he is a warm personal friend
of the Prince of Wales. The general
feeling is that King Oscar II. is pre-
eminentIy qualified for the RESPONSE
bility involved in his present choice by
the United States and Great Britain.
FINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
The two notes passing between Sec
retary Olney and Lord Salisbury, which
narrowed down to an agreement the
Cnly important issue remaining to be
decided, namely, that of the disposition
of British vested rights through settle
nlent. bear date of July last and are
as follows:
CNo. 171.) Foreign Office, July 8, 1s96.-sir:
I have TO acknowledge your excellency's dis
patch No. 200 of June Is. inclosing a note
from Mr.. Olney in which he explains the rea-
sons that induce the government of the
United States to withhold their assent from
the proposals with respect to the Venezuelan
of May.
The arguments by which Mr. Olney sup
ports this view will receive the careful con-
sideration of her maiesty's government. I
am not now writing to you for the purpose
of discussing them. My object in addressing
your excellency is to point out that in
matter Of some Importance, Mr.. Olney, ow
ing doubtless to the inadeuuacy of my own
explanation, has misapprehended the purport
of the proposal which l had the honor to
make to him. He states that ''It appears to
ha fund hat diary
line TO be decided to be the true one by the
arbitrators shall not operate upon territory
bona fde occupied by British subject
shall be reflected in every such case so as
to make such territory part OF British
Guiana" This was not the intention Of my
proposals. and the language of my dispatch
this construction proposed that "the tri-
bunaI should not have power to include such
districts as the territory Of Venezuela"
But l did not propose that thew should nee
essariIy be assumed without further proof
to be part Of British Guiana. I only stipu-
lated that the ownership of them was not to
be decided by the tribunal. which in cur
Judgment was Inadequate for tails purpose,
though II was adeauate for the assignement
OF the unsettled district. The settled dis
trict shown to be in dispute by the in
qpries of the commission, were to be dis
posed of by subsequent negotiation The
claim of Venezuela is so far-reaching
that it brings into question interests and
rights which cannot properly by disposed of
by unrestricte5 arbitration. It extends as
far the EscGuibo; it covers two-thirds Of
the colony Of British Guiana; is impeaches
, titles which have been unduestioned for
many generations. These districts must be
treated separately. ard until further inquiry
has thrown more light upon The matter, it is
only by reserving the settled districts gen
erallv that this can be dcne
The view OF her meiesty's government is
that where rights which belong to
siderable population and are deeoly cherished
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