Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-16
COMMISSIONS STATEMENT.
All Further Active Work is to be Sus
pended.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 1O.-The com
mission met this morning at it's rooms in
the Sun building. There was a general
discussion of the boundary dispute in
the light of Lord Salisburys announce
ment and it was decided that the com
mission should practically suspend It's
labor aside from putting into form docu-
ments already gathered. The following
official statement was given to the pub
lie:
1.-The statements of Lord Salisbury, as
reported in the morning papers, makes it
probable that the boundary dispute now
pending between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela will be settled by arbitration at an
early day. Under these circumstances
the commission, while continuing its de-
liberia tons in the preparation and order
ly arrangement of many valuable maps,
reports and documents which have been
procured and used in the course of its
labors, does not propose to formulate any
decision, for the nresent of the matters
subject to its examination. 1t will con-
tinue its sessions from time to time, but
with the hope and expectation that a
friendly and just settlement of all pend
ing differences between the nations in
terested will make any final decision on
its part unnecessary.
There is some likelihood that Lord
Salisburys statement last night will be
given a broader meaning than it was cal
culated to convey and this doubtless oc-
casioned the reservation in the commits
eion's announcement. 1t is to be noted
that Lord Salisbury did not make the
positive statement that the controversy
was settled.
Secretary Olney today refused to make
any statement whatever touching the
boundary dispute, but it is known that
certain details vet remain to be adjusted
before the arbitration treaty can be re-
garded as an accomplished fact. More
over, it must be borne in mind that any
such treaty before becoming effective
must be submitted to the United States
Senate for its approval and this at
least involves a delay of weeks aside
from the possibility of amendments. AS
by common understanding, the limita-
lions to be placed upon the arbitration in
the consideration of vested British claims
have been agreed upon, it is probable the
more important of the details remaining
to be adjusted relate to the personnel of
the arbitration commission and particu-
larry to the means to be adopted to
give effect to the decision.
The latter always has proved a diff
cult phase in these negotiations of arbi-
tration treaties and may be expected to
require especially delicate handling in a
controversy involving the fortunes of
many Individuals as we'll as important
corporate interests and the nationality of
subjects. While Lord Salisbury's state
ment is general and lacking in details.
the negotiations which have proceeded
permit a ready application of the general
principles he lays down as to settled dis
tricts.
Victory for Venezuela.
From the Venezuelan standpoint the
final agreement for any kind of arbitra-
ton is in itself distinct victory. Vene-
zuela has asked arbitration for forty
years. Great Britain's reply always has
been uniform, viz: That while arbi-
tration was desired. yet the settled dis
tricts, which were regarded as ''sov-
ereign British soiI,'' were not open to
arbitration. BY Lord Salisbury's state
ment last night the arbitration will pro-
coed on acceptance of the old common
law rule of prescription
The understanding here is that the en-
tire Venezuela boundary will be thrown
open to arbitration, and that it remains
for Great Britain to show that certain
portions have been occupied by her sub
Jects so long, peacefully, uninterruptedly
and publicly as to make conclusive ter
ritorial presumption.