The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-08

Washington, Dec. THE report OF
the secretary of state to which Presi-
dent Cleveland referred in his message
to congress, states that 1.-The relations
Of the United States with foreign
powers continue upon that footing OF
harmony and friendliness which has
been their fortunate characteristic for
SO many years" The report sum-
marizes the more important questions
which have occupied the attention of
the department during the fiscal year.
OF the dispute between Great Britain
and Venezuela, it says:
1.-The long protracted dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela over the
boundary between the latter republic
and British Guiana has for a number
of years past attracted the earnest at
tention of this government and enlisted
its official friendly offices to bring
about an adjustment of the question
in the best interests of right and JUS
tice, and determinable by the histor-
ical record and the actual facts. The
extended discussion of the subject Gull
minated in July of last year, by an
! elaborate presentation to the British
government of the views of the United
! States touching the OpportunenesS and
necessity of a final disposition OF the
points at issue, by the PACING resort
of an equitable arbitration. The entire
correspondence having been laid be-
fore congress, with the message OF
Dec. II, 1895, that body provided for
| the appointment of democratic com
mission of eminent juriStS to examine
and report touching the ascertainable
facts of the controversy, with view
to enable this government to determine
its further course in the matter That
commission has pursued its labors I'M
remittingly during the present year
its researches being greatly aided by
the elaborate statements placing at its
DISPOSAL by both interested govern
ments, given with a mass of docu-
mentary evidence furnished from the
archives of the European countries
that shared in the early discoveries in
and settlement of South America.
NOTHING LEFT UNDONE.
Pending this arduous investigation,
however, the governments of the
United States and Great Britain have
omitted no endeaVOr to obtain
friendly understanding upon the main
issue of principle through diplomatic
negotiations and it is most gratifying
to announce that amicable councils
have prevailed to induce a satisfactory
result, whereby the boundary question
and its associated phrases have been
at last eliminated as between this
country and England. A complete ac-
cord has been achieved by which the
substantial terms of treaty of arbi-
tration to be concluded by Great Brit
81, God
upon, the. provisions of which embrace
a full arbitration of the whole con-
troversy upon a basis alike just and
honorable TO both the contestants.
1t onl.- remains for the two parties
directly concerned TO complete this
equitable arrangement by signing the
proposed formal treatZ, and no doubt
is entertained that Venezuela. which
so earnestly sought the friendly as
sistarce of the United States toward
the settlement of this vexatious con-
tention, and which has cOnfded its
interests to the imperial judgment of
this government, viii assent to the
formal adjustment thus attained, for
ever ending a dispute involving far
reaching consequences to the peace
and welfare of the western continent
Coincidentally with the consideration
Of the Venezuelan question, the two
governments have continued negotia
lions fer a general arbitration treaty,
in line with the recommendation of
the British house of commons, to
which previous messages of the presi-
dent have adverted, that all differences
hereafter arising between the two
countries and not amenable TO ordi-
nary Diplomatic treatment, should be
referred TO arbitration. The United
States and Great Britain, having been
given re0eated proofs of their acqui-
escence to the great principle evolved;
not only by treaties between them
selves, but severally, by concluding
like adjustments with other powers
for the adjudication of disputes rest
ing on law and fact, the subject was
naturally approached in a benevolent
spirit OF agreement, and the negotia-
lions have so satisfactorily progressed
as 10 foreshadow a practical agree
ment at an early date upon the text
of convention to the desired end.
AS TO SPAIN.
Under the head of Spain, the secre-
tary, in his accompanying report,
which is. oe course. endorsed by the
president, speaks of the Cuban situa-
ton as follows:
The situation in the island of Cuba |
has largely engrossed the attention of
the department of state during the
past year. It's efforts to obtain trust |
worthy information. and to insure due |
protection 10 citizens of the United |
States and their property and interests |
within the theatre of disturbance, have |
been abl= seconded by the consular |
in that island.
Confined in the outset, as in the ten |
years insurrection, which began at |
Yaravin, October, 1868, to the eastern |
portions of the islands, where the to- |
Biography and absence of settled CEN
tiers especially favored the desultory |
apparently normal to this class |
of contests, the present insurgent up |
rising verify took proportions beside !
those of its predecessors, and there was |
assumed an aggressive phase, invading |
the populous central and western dis
tricts.
Passing the defensive lines, or tro-
cha, traversing the island from north |
to south, formidable bodies of the rev.
forces. early in the year
themselves in the rich sug-
ar planting districts of Santa Clara,
Cienfugos and Matanzas, made hostile
forays almost in sight of Havana itself,
and, advancing westward, effected a
Judgment in the fertile fields of Pinar
del Rio, which has so far resisted all
efforts of the Spanish forces to over
come.
No prominent seaport had been at
tackled by the insurgents, or even men
aced beyond occasional raids upon the
outskirts. A large part of the 1900 |
miles of the irregular coast line of
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