Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-01-25
NOT VERY MARLIKE.


An Important Document from tine Yene-
xuein Commission Addressed 70 Hecrt-
fary Olney, hut Intended for the Notice
OF the Rival Governments and Looikine
TO u Peaceful Solution OF the lexcu
Question Of Delimi,ation.
WAsnINaToN, Jan. 21. The members
Of the Venezuelan committee met yes
tcrday at 1890 q. m. IN their temporary
quarters ia the building partly occu-
pied by the interstate commerce COM
mission. Justice Brewer presided.
The selection Of Mr.. $. Mallet Provost.
Of New York. ais the executive officer
Of the commission, was formally rati-
fed.
The commission gave out for pub
lication the following letter addressed
tolSecretary Olney last week, inviting
,eo4operation from the two govern
mcnts chiefly interested in the bound
ary controversy:
OFFICE or THE
|VENEzuELAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION,
WAsHINGToS, DC, JAM Is, 1896.
Hon. Secretary Of Stots.
DEAR SIR: 4 have the honor tostate;
that the commission appointed ty the.
president Of sthc limits states 70 ain-
vestigate and report upon the true di-
visional line between the republic OF
venezuela and British Guiana, has or
ganized by the election of Hon. David
J. Brewer as its pres ident, and is en-
tering upon the immediate discharge
of its duties.
'.In SO doing, it has, after careful
consideration, concluded to address
you on the question of securing, so far
as possible, the friendly cooperation
and aid of the two nations which are
directly interested in the now-pending
boundary difficulties.
SIT must have suggested itself to
you, as it no doubt has to the presi-
dent, that this commission thus au-
thorized to ascertain and report the
boundary line between two foreign ma
tions, bears only a remote resemblance
to those tribunals of an
international character, Of which
in the past. They were constituted
by or with the consent of the dis
putants themselves, and were author
lied by the parties Immediately con-
cerned to pronounce final Judgment.
The questions at issue were presented
by the advocates of the various inter
ests, 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 exercise of
judicial powers, and they might fairly
expect to report result satisfactory
to their consciences while it COM
manded the respect of those whose in
terests were directly involved.
The present commission, neither by
the mode of its appointment nor by
the nature of it's duties, may
be said to belong to tribunals of
this character Its duties will be dis
charged if it shall diligently and fairly
seek to inform the executive of certain
facts touching large extent of terri
tory, in which the United States has
no direct interest. Whatever may be
the conclusion reached, no territorial
aggrandizement, nor material gain in
States. The sole concern of our gov
ternmert is the peaceful solution of q
controversy between two friendly powz
ers; for the Just and honorable settle
ment of the title 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, to
suggest to you the expediency of call
ing 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, en-
tirely consistent with their own sense
of international propriety, to give the
commission the aid that it is no doubt
in their power to furnish in the way
of documentary proof, historical mar
rative, unpublished archives or the
like. 1t is scarcely necessary to say
that if either should deem it appro-
pirate to designate an agent or attor-
ney, whose duty it would be to see
that no such proofs were omitted or
overlooked. the commission would be
grateful for such evidence of good will
and for the valuable results which
would be likely to follow therefrom.
An act of either governmental the
direction here suggested might be ac-
companied by an express reservation
| as to her claims, and should not be
| deemed to be an abandonment, or im-
pairment, of any position heretofore
expressed. In other words, and in
lawyers phrase, each might be will
| ing to act the part of an amicus curiae,
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 govern
ment of the United States TO secure
the desired information should fail OF
its purpose.
[Signed DAVID j. B REwER,
President.
To this communication Secretary
Olney replied, stating that he had
communicated the suggestions Of the
commission TO Sir Julian Pauncefote
the British ambassador, and to Min
lister Andradc, the Venezuelan repre-
sentative, for transmission to their re-
spective governments
The commission then adjourned till
Friday next.