The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-06-24
THE VENEZUELAN MATTER
Proves Less Serious Than Was
Feared
NEGOTIATION is PENDING
Though Progress Seems Likely to Be
Slow
The Crown Surveyor Exceeded His Authority
and no Protest Will Be rsde by
the British
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, June 23.-Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador,
and Minister Andrade of Venezuela,
have been negotiating of late upon the
settlement of the Uruan affair, and in
cidentally toward opening negotiations
on the boundary question proper. There
have been delays due to the month or
more occupied in the transmission of
mail to Caracas and return, so that thus
far the negotiations haye not proceeded
beyond an Introductory stage. 1t is the
pendency of those negotiations to which
Mr.. Curzon. under secretary of foreign
affairs, referred in his public statement
before the house of commons last Fri
day, when he spoke of the instructions
given to Sir Julian to communicate with
Minister Andrade, and to the latter's
failure thus far to respond. Some ques-
tion was raised here as to the accuracy
of Mr.. Curzon's statement, as officials
doubted whether Minister Andrade had
received from Sir Julian any suggestion
of negotiations with regard to the
boundary.
1t appears, however, that these doubts
referred to technical details, and that
in a general way Sir Julian and Minister
Andrade have been negotiating on the
lines stated by Mr.. Curzon.
There appears to be considerable dip
lomatic fencing in the matter just now.
From the British standpoint Sir Julian's
overtures to Minister Andrade afford
the latter an opportunity to submit prop
ositions which may bring the govern
ments together, but from the Venezue-
lon to ni,of f1o p~it t;t,1,
should consist of definite propositions.
The Venezuelans say there is nothing
for them to propose except arbitration.
which they have proposed time and
again. This involves nice diplomatic
distinctions as to who shall make the
! overtures embracing exact propositions.
Meanwhile, there is constant delay on
these tecnicalities owing to time con-
sumed in the mails between Washing
| ton and Caracas.
i The arrest of Mr.. Harrison has not
been communicated to the officials here.
1t appears to be conceded, however, that
! Harrison was in the wrong if the dis
| patches are correct in stating he was
on the west side of the river.
| Mr.. Chamberlain, secretary of state
| for the colonies, laid down the Cuyuni
river as part of the provisional boundary
pending a settlement, so that it is said
that the British will not make the con-
tention that Harrison was right in pro-
ceeding beyond this boundary. This
takes from the incident it's serious as
pect as Mr. Harrison is not likely to be
supported by the vigorous protest that
was at first anticipated.
The Globe commenting on the arrest
of the crown surveyor by British Guiana
by the Venezuelan troops says: Trhe
Venezuelan government has repeated
an insult to Great Britain with which
even American spraad-eagleism could
not sympathize 1t looks as though Pres
ident Crespo were thinking Of the ap-
proach of the presidential election in
the United States and was anxious to
force a collision with Great Britain be-
fore the question has lost it's electioneer-
ing value"
Secretary of State of the Colonies JOS
Chamberlain was questioned today re-
garding the action the government
would take regarding the arrest of Har-
| rison, crown surveyor of British Guiana.
by the Venezuelans. Chamberlain de-
clined to say anything on the subject. I
The St. James Gazette, referring to
the same subject says: This last inn
pertinance is repetition of the Uruan
and other affairs during a half century.
and yet Venezuela has never apologized.
Are we waiting to see the opinion which
the American commission will reach
upon the various historic questions
which it is investigating in a languid
way? If we are going to ignore the in
science of Caracas out of regard to the
susceptibility of Washington, our pa
tience will not want for exercise"