Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-22
How the Venezuelan Difficulty Can
Be Satisfactorily Adjusted.
GREAT BRITAIN WILLING TO ARBIrRATE
Private Information Conveyed to
Secretary Of State OIney.
HONORABLE TO BOTH PARTIES

According to London dispatch, the Lon
don Times Of this morning gives unusual
prominence to a Washington dispatch sent
to it by it's correspondent, Mr.. G. w. Small
ley, asserting that he has personal knowl-
edge of the existence in the White House
and State Department of a strong and
cordial wish for an early and complete set
tlement of the dispute with Great Britain
on terms that will involve no discredit to
either government, and also the existence
Of the belief that such a settlement may be
speedily reached. Mr.. Smalley adds that
good advice has already been given to
Venezuela, and may be given more effec-
lively.
The statements made in the Times are
mainly corroborative of a news item on the
ss me general subject in yesterdays Star
1t was then stated on unimpeachable au-
thority that the President and the Secre-
tion that justified the belief that the Fene-
zuelan boundary dispute may be settled
Ieaceably, on a basis satisfactory and hon
orable to all parties concerned.
The Proposed Plan.
According to the best un1erstan ling, the
proposed plan of settlement is by an agree
ment between Great Britain and venez-
uela for the arbitration of the territorial
Jurisdiction over all disputed country west
of the Schomburgk line, with the under
standing that, if the investigation of that
question discloses any doubt of the title
OF Great Britain to any territory on the
east OF that line, the settlement of that
question shall be also made the subject of
arbitration by subsequent convention be-
tween the two countries.
The Secretary's Private Notiftca ton.
There is authority for the statement that
Ambassador Bayard has privately inform
ed the Secretary Of State Of the apparent
Willingness of the British government to
agree to an adjustment Of the controversy
on the lines indicated, and there is also
rea season TO believe that the Secretary Of
state would favor the acceptance by Ven
ezIela OF proposition to that effect
A Satisfactory Arrangement,
Such an arrangement, it is said. would
De entirely satisfactory to the United
states, as virtually. although indirectly,
conceding the arbitration of the principal
questions at ISSUE and 1t is believed that
II can be 0onsunmated, unless Venezuela
snould regard 1t as constructive admis-
sion of BritishftitIe to the disputed terrf-
tory east Off the Shomburgk line. The
PRESIDENT, IN his message to Congress, said
tnat the United States would be satisfied
with anyFarrangement fer the adjustment
OF the dispute that would be satisfactory
to Venezuela.
Great Britnin's Position,
The position Of the British government
on this question is believed to be officially
stated in the following paragraphs in the
London Times:
Lord Salisbury's original objection to
arpitrate concerning districts settled years
ago by British subjects and under British
law sun holds good, but the American gov
ernment must be well aware of the per-
Iect Willingness on this side to discard the
Scnomburgk line and arbitrate on all the
uIsputeu territory, excluding only the dis
tricts the British or Venezuelans have per
manently settled.
This basis for negotiations is open for
venezuela to seek at any time 1t GER
talnly would not be rejected here, but it is
mpossible for Great Britain to resume
diplomatic relations with Venezuela until
the latter shall have made the first ad-
vance," "o