The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-29
NEWSFROM FOREIGN LANDS
Inc Plague Is Playing Havoc in
India.
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION OPEN
""''"c"tton IL acknowledgements n I
Crespo Wants TO Understand
the Matter.

Washington. December 2s.--Secrctary OIL
ney left the state department at ~ O'Clock
anu went direct to the British embassy.
where he held long conference by appoint
ment with Sir Julian Paunccfotc, the Brit
ism ambassador, relative TO the status OF
'he venezuelan settlement and the general
treaty OF arbitration between the United
states ami Great Britain Mr.. olncy' q
con followed the arrival Of Minister An
drade minister Of Venezuela. and Mi, Stor-
row, counsel in the Venezuela case, who
reached Washington late last evening.
The results Of the conference were guard
ed with the usual secrecy which prevails at
meetings between the secretary and am
bassador, but there is good reason TO be-
lieye 1t was the occasion for going over
several phases of the Venezuelan question
which developed with the return Of the Of
ticias from Caracas.
The plan of an extra session OF the Nene.
zuelan 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
Messds. Andrade and Storrow left for
Caracas to urge President Crespo and the
government authorities to secure an inn
mediate acceptance. On arriving at
Caracas MIR. Andrade cables Secretary Oh
ney that President Crespn would call an
extra session. This was received with sat
isfaction at the state department as an evil
dence that Venezuela would act promptly.
Since then, however, no call for an extra
session has been issued. II has developed
also that strong sentiment existed against
an extra session coming in a short lime be-
fore the regular session of May 90. As
thirty days must elapse after the notice IL
an extra session the congress could not
possibly convene before February | Under
these circumstances it is practically settled
that there will be no extra session, but
that the regular session Will he advanced
twenty days, under custom prevalent In
Venezuela. The congress meets for two
months, according to the law, but usually
IL is extended twenty days beyond the two
months. 1t is felt that this extension
might be added to the beginning of the
session with the same proprcty as at the
end of the session, The present outlook is
that the Venezuelan authorities will con-
yone congress on February L. or twenty
days ahead of the usual time. This will
give a regular session, without the extra
expense and confusion of an extraordinary
session.
There appears also to be much question
as to the nature of Venozuelas acceptance
President Crespo and the government au-
thorltes have expressed satisfaction with
the general result OF the settlement so far
as they secured arbitration. yet they have
not expressed official approval Of all the
details of the settlement on the contrary
there seems TO he very earnest desire at
Caracas for moro exact information on tho
terms nj the treaty between Venezuela and
Great Britain.
When the settlement was made in Wash
ington rough draft of the general feat
ures OF the settlement was made. This
contemplated the subsequent negotiation
of an arbitration treaty between Great Brit
ain and Venezuela in the general lines pre-
scribed by the settlement. But the Nene
zuelan authorities prefer to rec treaty
rather than an agreement for treaty, and
the present indications are that Venezuela
Will give no acceptance until the entire
phrasoology of the treaty with all it's terms
and qualifications is completed. This may
take considerable time.
The general expectation was that Vene-
zuela would first accept the proposed meth
cd of settlement. Then diplomatic rcla-
tons between Great Britain and Venezuela
would follow as matter of course. When
these relations were established the
British minister at Caracas could readily
take up the negotiations of the proposed
arbitration treaty.
In official and diplomatic circles there
continues to be satisfactory and hopeful
view taken Of the situation 1t is felt hat
all obstacles will be cleared away in time,
and there is disposition to minimize oh
siacles as being under the head of minor
details. At the same time the practical
abandonment Of the extra session of the
Venezuelan congress and the disposition to
close all negotiations on the final treaties
before an acceptance Is given, do not in
crease the prospects of a speedy conclusion
| OF the case.
on the question of general arbitration
1 between the United States and Great Brit
ain, Mr., Olney and Sir Julian Paunoefote
| have made their final draft Of the treaty
and II is in the hands Of Lcrd Salisbury,
awaiting his approval, No doubt exists of
IFS approval. and II is expected TO come
daily II had not arrived when Mr.. Olney
conferred with the ambassador today
yMPASsIONED SPEECH