The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-18

Washington, July 1.-THE correspond
ence which has passed between the gov
ernments of the United States and Great
Britain, respecting the establishment of
general system of arbitration for the
settlement of any dispute which may
arise between the two countries and also
Tor the settlement by arbitration of the
dispute over the Venezuelan boundary
has been made public in the shape of a
dozen letters which have been exchanged
this year between Secretary Olnev, Lord
Salisbury, Sir Julian Pauncefote and
Ambassador Bayard
The correspondence is of great interest
as making sensible advance towards the
adoption by the two English speaking ma
lions OF the principles of arbitration as
the means of settling disputes between
themselves, but the persons who have
looked forward with hope and expectation
to the speedy conclusion of treaties en-
bodying the arbitration principles for the
settlement of either or both of the two
great open issues between the two nations
are doomed to disappointment, for at the
GATE OF exchange of the last note, one
from Secretary Olney to. the British en-
bassador here, dated within a month
past, points of the most vital nature in
the case not only of the Venezuelan cues
ton specifically but of the general arbi-
tratlon proposition as well, were still the
subject of discussion without much ex-
pectation of an early adjustment.
Notable features of the correspondence
are the fact, that whereas Mr. Bayard, by
instruction of Secretary Olney, proposed
negotiations at Washington respecting
the Venezuelan boundary dispute, Lord
Salisbury broadened it into general ar
bltration scheme, following n lead set by
the late Secretary Gresham in the sprinp
OF 1879; that Secretary Olney later insist
ed upon disassociating the two subjects
evidently fearing an ENHANCEMENT alli-
ance otherwise; that as to general arbitra-
tlon, the issues which still prevent an
agreement are the indisposition of the
British government to include territorial
disputes save with the addition of provis-
ions that, i'll the estimation of Secretary
Olney, will render the attempt at arbitra-
ton nugatory because there are no means
of making the findings of the arbitrators
binding upon the parties or of removing
them from the possibility of infinite APP
peals.
AS to the Venezuelan matter specifically
and the difficulty that cannot be overcome
is the refusal of the British to subject to
the action OF the arbitration the territory
upon which British subjects have actu-
ally settled. limitation arbitration - is
what Secretary Olney designates Lord
Salisbury's project, while the British pre-
mier criticises Secretary Olney's plan as
calculated to result in evils worse than
war in the institution of innumerable
suits to recover claimed territory.
The correspondence proper begins with
note dated February 9th last, from Mr..
Bayard to the Marquis of Salisbury, in
which he says that In order to reach a
well-defined agreement for the arbitration
of the boundary between British Guiana
and Venezuela-which seems to be al
most unanimously desired in both the
United States and Great Britain,-his in
structlons continue to indicate an urgent
desire to have the question removed as
soon as practicable from the atmosphere
OF possible controversy. Therefore he
proposed to enter upon negotiations at
Washington to effect this purpose He
also asked for a clear definition of the
settlements" by individuals in the ter
ritory in dispute which Great Britain
desired should be excluded from arbitra-
ton.
Within four days of the receipt of this
note Lord Salisbury made reply, readily
concurring in the suggestion to begin ne
Sotiations and noting the desire of the
British government TO bring the differ
ciiceS between themselves and Venezuela
TO an equitable settlement He states
that the termination of facts is a suitable
matter to be considered by properly
constituted tribunal, and while it might
he more difficult to arrive at an agree
ment as to law which should govern, the
possibility of being compelled to argue
that question later on should not deter
the governments from setting in motion
that part of the procedure on which they
are already agreed
The day following this note, March .
last, Lord Salisbury addressed n letter to
Sir Julian Pauncefote in which he refers
to the exchange of communications in the
preceding spring between the ambassador
and the late Mr.. Gresham upon the estab-
llshment OF system of international ar
bitration for the adjustment of disputes
between the two governments, 1.-THE fur
cher consideration of which at that time
was prevented by circumstances to which
1T Is unnecessary to refer
Lord Salisbury added: ''But it has
again been brought into prominence by
the controversy which has arisen upon
the Venezuelan boundary. Without
touching upon the matters raised by that
dispute, 1t appears to me that the occa-
sion is favorable for renewing the general
discussion upon a subject in which both
nations feel strong interest, without
having been, up to this time, able to ar
rive at common ground of agreement