The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-11

lng him of the result. 1t reached him
within one hour Of the time when he went
on the platform at Guildhall, and 1t was
fhe basis for his announcement to Eng
land and to the entire world that tho
Venezuela controversy was settled.
Thus Washington and London partici-
pated in this eventful scene by which the
two leading English speaking nations
reach all amicablo means of adjusting
oae of the most troublesome international
questions Of recent years. Although Lord
euii5bury'e statement WAS Yithnnt dethila
1t Is possible to give all of the essential
features OF the treaty. The main point, rs
already stated, Is that King Oscar II Is
the fifth or decisive arbitrator. 1t was
deemed best to mako this choice rath er
shan to leave it to the selection of the other
four arbitrators The latter are assured
OF being men Of eminent judicial attain
ment as their choice is left entirely to tho
respective countries.
The other essential feature of the treaty
is that fifty years actual possession is to
constitute title. With this limitation as
to tho settled districts, the entiro sweep Of
Venezuela boundary is placed in tho
hands of tho court of arbitration. The
treaty covers only Venezuela, and tho quos-
tion Of general arbitration between tho
United States md Great Britain Is left to
future negotiations.
Asa king seldom leaves his country, ex-
Cept on state visits to other sovercigns, it
Is not expected that King Oscar ii will go
outside OF Sweden for the meeting OF tho
nsbtrators, and tho court is likely to sit
nj Stockholm, tho capital of Sweden,
where King Oscars palace and the halls
Of the Swedish reksdag are located.
Tho choice of King Oscar appears to have
been most fortunate one, as he is uni
versally regarded as man of great at
tainmcnts of judicial temperament, and of
eminent fairness. Among tho monarch3
Of Eurono he is probably tho most popu-
lar as ho goes freely among the people
and is thoroughly democratic in his ways.
The feeling entertained for him Is shown
by the fact that tho Scandinavian resi-
dents Of the United States are at present
raising large sums with which to buy him
Apreseut on the celebration Of his Goth
birthday.
He is known also as the "Giant King"
rs he stands six feet threo inches in height,
towering above most men and central
figure IN all assemblages He comes from
poble stock, being the grandson of tho
French Marshal Bernadotte, who Is con
Gdered first among the marshals Of
Franco, nnd, save Napoleon himself. un-
doubtedly the greatest character upheaved
by the French revolution. When In 1910,
the last of tho Vasa line of kings was
childlcss on the throne Of Sweden, the
reksdag turned their attention to Napo-
leon 3 generals, who were then VIGOROUSLY
sweeping over all Europe. In August,
1870 tho reksdag unanimously elected
Bernadotte as crown prince of Sweden,
and on the death Of the reigning king
Beruadotte succeeded to tho throne
King Oscar is not only ruler whose
Craftsmanship has advanced Norway and
throughout Europe as a lingu,st, on author
and poet and musician. Ho speaks half q
dozen languages fucntly, and has q thor.
ough command Of English, which will be
of especial advantage in the present arbl.
sration.
Whilo most cordial towards the United
States, King Oscar Ia not the less friendly
to Great Britain, although there are no
tics Of immediate kinship with the British
royal family.
Tho learning and judicial fairness which
King Oscar has shown in several recent
.rbitrations has led to the feeling that he
is prominently qualified for the respon'
sibility involved in his present choice by
the United States and Great Britain.