Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-03
VENEZUELAN Commission.
1t will be Absolutely Free from All
DictatiOn.
The United States Government will
Refrain from Taking Any Part in
the Matter Of Securing or Present
ing Bvidence-A Similarity Be-
tween the Venezuelan and Trans
vaal Rows.

vaal Rows.
Washington, January 2.-The per-
sonnel of the Venezuelan commission
was commended to-day by all people
who take particular interest in inter-
national matters.
The gentlemen selected were consid-
cred entirely competent to conduct
what the President in his message ex-
pressed wish fora judicial examin-
alton Of the evidence relating to the
boundary. 1t was also pointed out that
while several members of the commits
sion have participated in politics, none
can be considered a strong partisan at
this time, so that so far as our domes-
tic affairs are concerned they would not
be likely to enter upon their work with
any party ends to serve. In speaking
of the Venezuelan question. an author
ity upon International affairs pointed
out that the present hostilities in the
Transvaal furnished a direct and most
opportune parallel to the South Ameri-
can dispute. The note of the German
government to Great Britain in re-
questing an explanation of Jameson's
expedition into the Beers territOrrry
and protesting against it. he thought,
would tend to fortify the arguments of
the United States in justification of its
action regarding the Venezuelan boun-
dary. The conditions of the
TWO CASES ARE NOT UNLIKE.
pendent republic and Germany does not
claim to maintain a protectorate over
it any more than the United States does
over Venezuela, yet Germany assumes
right to interfere to check British ag-
gressions. Nor can the German gov
| ernment claim that its own safety is
in any way menaced by. any steps
which the English might take against
the Beers; it can only assert right to
interfere on the ground that its inter-
! ests are involved which is thought by
many to be the only tenable ground
upon which this government can base
its right to be considered party to the
dispute between Venezuela and Brit
ish dependency. There is no doubt
that proceedings in the Transvaal will
have an interest for this government,
which they otherwise would not have be-
cause of their possible application to
the Venezuelan boundary correspond
ence
Minister Andrade, of Venezuela, no
titled his government by cable to-day
of the appointment Of the Venezuelan
commission. The case of Venezuela is
ready to present at any time, although
the Venezuelan authorities will take
no steps toward offering evidence un-
til the rules governing the commission
are announced. SO far as is known
Minister Andrade will present the Ven
ezuelan case, as he has long acquaint-
ance with the subject and is, moreover,
a fluent advocate in English.
THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES
VIII not formally recognize the com
mission, but the British side of the case
will be secured by application of Ambas-
sador Bayard to the London foreign
Office.
1t is authoritatively stated that the
Venezuelan commission will be absolute
master of its own procedure. fixing the
time and place Of its meetings and de-
termining for itself whether or not 1t
shall visit foreign countries; what class
of evidence may be taken into consid-
Grafton and how interested govern
ments may be represented before the
tribunal. This independence of action
| is necessary to secure to the commits
siou's findings that degree of weight and
7 OF
be attained only through knowledge
that the body is free from any restraint
or obligation to the United States gov
ernment which has created it. Our
government will not allow itself to be
placed in the position of taking sides
as to the merits Of the controversy be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela; it
will not undertake to present the Ven
ezuelan case, nor will it even endeaver
to offset any evidence that leans to-
wards the British contention.
From the beginning Of the negotia-
tions with Great Britain touching the
Venezuelan boundary the United States
Oyernment
HAS EXPRESSLY REFRAINED
from committing itself to a reoogni-
tion of the justice of Venezuelans claim
and has limited itself strictly TO the
contention that this was proper matter
for settlement by arbitration. More
over the attitude which the department
has assumed towards the commission
itself is regarded as a sufficient mega
tive to the assumption in Europe that
the Unuited States government proposed
constituting itself the arbitrator in this
dispute, for the commission will be as
Independent of the United States gov
ernment as it will be Of any other gov
ernment.