Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-21
VENEZUELA NATTER
Mr. Smollett PreYoSt, Of New YORK.
Executive 01lcef Of Commission.
WHAT UNCLE SAM PROPOSES
Suggestion That the Two 6o'er"-
ments Most Interested In the
boundary Dispute Might Give In
formation OF Importance.

! The members OF the Nenezueian Ooiiiih''
sion met to-day at 1l:S0 a. NJ. in their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS temporary quar-
/ ters In the building partly occupied by
/ the Interstate Commerce Commission
Justice Brewer presided. The selection
Of Mr.. smollett Provost. OF New York, as
the executiye officer of the commission
was ratified.
Mr.. Provost was not present, but II was
stated that he would take hold OF MS
duties OH Wednesday next.
The commission gave out for publica-
ton the following letter, addressed TO
Secretary Oney last week, inviting IN
formation from the two governments
chiefly interested in the boundary contro-
versy:
"Ofice Venezuela Boundary Commission,
Washington. d. c.. January 10, 1880.
1.-The Honorable Secretary OF state
Dear Sir.-I have the honor 10 state
that the commission appointed by the
! President of the United States TO inves-
tigate and report on the true divisional
line between the republic of Venezuela
and British Guiana has organized by the
election of Hon. David j. Brewer as It's
president and is entering upon the I'M
mediate discharge of it, duties.
''In so doing II has. after careful con-
! sideration. concluded to address you on
the question OF securing. so far as possi-
BILE, the friendly cooperation ana sid oi
| the two nations which are directly IN
terested in the now pending boundary
| differences.
at must have suggested Itself TO you.
as il no doubt has to the President that
| this commission, thus authorized 10 as
certain and report boundary line BE-
! tween two foreign nations bears only
| remote resemblance to those tribunals OF
! an international character OF which we
have had several examples In the past.
'rhey were constituted by or with the
consent of the disputants themselves. and
were authorized by the parties imme-
diately concerned to pronounce hnal
! Judgment The questions at issue were
presented By the advocates Of the various
interests upon whose diligence and skill
the tribunal might safely rely for all the
data and the arguments essential TO the
formation of an intelligent judgment.
Their functions were. therefore, confined
to the judicial powers, and they might
fairly expect to reach result satisfactory
to their own consciences. while II COM
manded the respect of those whose inter-
ests were directly involved.
"The present commission. neither by the
mode Of its appointment nor by the ma
ture Of its duties may be said to belong
TO tribunals of this character. Its duty
will be discharged. If IL shall diligently
and fairly seek TO inform the Executive
OF certain facts touching a large extent
of territory In which the United States
nave no direct interest Whatever may
be the conclusion reached, no territorial
aggrandizement nor material gain In any
form can accrue to the United States.
OUR SOLE CONCERN.
"The sole concern of our government is
the peaceful solution q controversy
between two friendly Powers; for the
just and honorable settlement Of the tit'e
TO disputed territory. and the protection
Of the United States against any fresh
acquisitions In our hemisphere on the part
of any European State.
1T has seemed proper to the commits
sion. under these circumstances, 10 sug-
gest to you the expediency of calling
the attention Of the governments Of Great
Britain and Venezuela to the appointment
Of the commission and explaining both
its nature and object. 1t may be that
they will see a way. entirely consistent
with their own sense of international pro-
priety. TO give the commission the aid
that it is no doubt in their power to fur
nish in the way of documentary proof
historical narrative, unpublished archives.
or the like.
1T is scarcely necessary to say that IL
either should deem IL appropriate TO
designate an agent or attorney whose
duty 1t would be to see that such proofs
were omitted or overlooked, the COM
mission would be grateful for such evi-
dence Of good will, ard for the valuable
results which would be likely to follow
therefrom.
ANY act of their government in the
direction here suggested might be ac-
companled by an express reservation as
TO her claims, and should not be deemed
TO be an abandonment or impairment Of
any position heretofore expressed In
other words. and in lawyers phase. each
might be willing to act the part Of an
"amicus curae," and TO throw light upon
difficult and complex questions OF fact
which should be examined as carefully
as the magnitude of the subject demands.
"The purposes of the pending investi-
cation are certainly hostile to none nor
can it be of advantage to any that the
machinery devised by the government of
the United States TO secure the desired
information should fail of its purpose.
DAVID J. BREWER.
president"
To this communication Secretary Olney
replied. stating that he had presented
the subject of his communication TO Sir
Julian Pauncefote. the British Ambassa-
dor, and to Minister Andrade. the Vene-
zueian representative, for transmission TO
their respective governments.
The commission then adjourned till
Friday next, II being the understanding
that Friday y to be the first business
day OF the commission.
The only employees so far determined
upon are the secretary (or executive Off
cer). one stenographer. and door
keeper, and messenger.
The commission. finding that in New
England and elsewhere there are colec-
tions of ancient maps. desire IT TO be
understood that any documents OF this
kind entrusted TO them for their informa-
ton will be carefully preserved and re-