The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-01-02
Said England Is Likely to Come
Before the Venezuelan
Commission
Though She May Not Be Bound
in Any Way by Its
Findings.
The Commission Will Act indie.
pendently Even of the
President.

cation or suggestion OF any kind regard.
ing the Venezuelan dispute has come to
the United States from Great Britain
since Lord Salisbury's answer to Secre-
tary Olney, and the question stands en-
tirely upon the correspondence up to
! that time and the subsequent action of
congress. This disposes of several re-
ports, including one that Queen Vic
toria has addressed the personal COM
munication, similar to the one sent by
the prince of Wales, expressing the
hope that the two English-speaking
peoples would have no serious differ
ences. Such communication would
be according to the usage observed be-
tween the heads of nations, but in the
present case her majesty has given no
expression on the subject.
Independent Even of the President.
The policy which the Venezuelan
commission will adopt is being awaited
| with much interest by those most con-
cerned. The act makes the commission
independent of the state department,
and all executive control, so that it will
| be for the body itself to decide on the
method of procedure and whether it
| will 60 abroad to search foreign arch
! ives. Doubtless in such matter, the
! wishes Of the president and secretary of
state would have much weight, yet the
commission is an independent quasi
| judicial body, which is responsible for
its own actions. Some of the interna-
tional authorities say that even the evil
dence to he offered by the state de-
partment will have the same weight
and treatment, and no more, as it is
pointed out that the commission will
not prejudice the case by assuming the
correctness of the attitude of the state
department.
| Great Britain May Participates.
On the part of Great Britain there is
growing impression in official quar-
ters that indirect participation in the
work of the commission may be Sc
cured. The British attitude of late has
been favorable to an investigation by
the United States of the British claims,
for it is felt that the inquiry has been
ex-parte up to the time of the action by
congress. There was good reason to be-
|
proposed. that Great Britain would not
recognize it, and might take offense at its
creation. But the names of the men
mentioned as likely to constitute it, has
changed this feeling. until the present
| indication is that the British Will not
be averse to establishing before such a
body the rights which Lord Salisbury
| stated to be ;nconteStahle THIS may
not be done by oirect appearances before
the commission, but by the submission
| Of the British case in response to the
wishes of the commission convened
through Secretary Olney. By such
proceed ire, the British foreign Office
would be giving no recognition to the
jurisdict ION OF the commission, and yet
would secure a hearing of its case.
May search Spanish Archives.
On the part of Spain it is known that
no objection will be raised 10 the fullest
examination of the Spanish archives
Mr.. Olney has not yet requested that
such an examination be allowed, but he
is assured of favorable answer in case
such request is submitted. In this con-
nection it is said that the recent reports
from Europe of an understanding be-
tween Great Britain, Spain and other
countries for joint action against the
Monroe doctrine is not warranted, ut
least SO far as Spain is con-
cerned. The Spanish archives
are treasury Of information,
not only as to Venezuela, but as to all
the South and Central American coun-
tries, most Of them having been Span.
ish dependencies. AS result of this,
Spain is frequently asked to arbitrate
boundary disputes between these coun.
tries. At the present time, Spain has
on hand one Of these arbitrations, in.
volving the boundary of Ecuador.