The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-05
On Part Of Venezuela Said
to Have Developed.
Messengers to That Country to
Return at Once.
Settlement of Trouble With Great Britain
Likely to Be Somewhat Delayed.

Washington, Dec. 5.-MiniSter Andrad
Of Venezuela will sail from Laguayra,
the seaport Of Caracas. on Dec. 10. arriv-
ing at New York about the 18th, and
coming direct to Washington to pre-
sent in person 10 Mr.. Olney the position
of the Venezuelan authorities so far as
determined at present on the British
Venezuelan settlement. Mr.. James j
Storrow, who accompanied him, expected
to return at the same time. They went
to Caracas for the special purpose OF
laying before President Crespo and his
associates q copy of the Olney-Salisbury
agreement.
Their early return is a great surprise.
Since their departure little has come
from Venezuela, further than general
statement that the outlook was prom
lsing for an acceptance Of the agreement
and treaty. Now that they have deter
mined to return at this early day, with
out waiting for the assembling of the
Venezuelan congress. it is felt that their
meeting with President Crespo has de-
veloped some definite line of action on
the part of Venezuela.
So far as can be learned at the state
department the nature of the informa-
ton which Senior Andrade will bring has
not been anticipated by advices to the
department.. The only information avail
:; Die is the brief cablegram announcing
lis early return. This was sent from
Caracas on Thursday. From the circum-
stances attending the mission OF Messrs.
Andrade and Storrow Ii is felt that their
return means either one of two things,
viz: A satisfactory understanding OF
else q desire on the part OF Venezuelan
authorities to secure some change in the
terms Of the agreement.
The complete silence of the Venezuelan
officers up to the present time has been
q matter OF considerable surprise and
conjecture among officials here. The
newspapers of Caracas and MaracaibO
the two principal cities, have been re-
oeived here, but no mention is made OF
the arbitration agreement, although
they date for about a week after the pub
lie announcement of the terms Of the
agreement. Apparently, the only topic
of discussion in Venezuela at this time
was the election of a president to succeed
President Crespo, who is ineligible,
under the law, for reelection.
1t had been expected that speedy ac-
ton would be taken to have the Ven
ezuela congress pass upon the agree
On thlS, HOWCNCi, u
has arisen. The regular session opens
Feb. 20, so that a delay until then makes
it unlikely that the entire question could
be closed up before Secretary Olney's
administration of the state department
closed. This led to the belief among Off
Gals that President Crespo would call
a special session Of congress, but this
developed another complication. The
constitution of Venezuela provides that
a notice of 80 days shall be given as to
any extra session. AT best, therefore,
congress could not be got together until
about the middle of January. Thus far
no word has been received that an extra
session will be called. In any event any
action by the Venezuelan congress will
have to be within a few weeks of Mr.
Ohey's retirement.
The distance between Washington and
Caracas and the lack of facilities for
ready communication impose further re
striction on closing up the settlement.
Aside from the action of the Ven
ezuela congress on the agreement as a
whole, it is believed that the return of
Senior Andrade will make clear the op-
position Of all parties as to the 50-year
clause, which is the essential feature Of
the settlement Schomburgk began pro-
iecting his line in July, 1S41, SO that If the
territory within this line is to be treated
as occupied" the occupancy dates back
So years, and is five years more than the
arbitration agreement requires in order
to constitute lawful possession. From
the British standpoint this 50-year clause
is most favorable to them, and It has
been feared that Venezuela would take
exception to it as affording pretext for
the acceptance OF the Schomburgk line
as final.