The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-04
Negotiations I'm Progress Looking to
Peaceful Adjustment OF the
Uruan ssOutrage- Incident.
CONCESSION BY SALISBURY
THAT MAY RESULT IN SETTLEMENT
OF THE BOUNDARY DIsPUTE.
Poorly Attended Meeting mt London In
Favor Of Permanent Arbitration
Between Britain end America.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-It has been
learned that the British ambassador here,
Sir Julian Pauncefote, and the Venezuelan
minister in this city, Senor Andrade, have
entered into direct negotiations for set
tlement of the Uruan incident which In
volved the arrest Of a British police official
in the territory in dispute between Vene-
zuela and Great Britain, the hauling down
of the British flag and subsequent de-
mand for an indemnity on the part of Great
Britain.
1t is impossible to learn to what stage
this prospective settlement Of the most i'm
portant incident arising out of the dispute
over the Venezuelan boundary has ad-
vanced, but there is good reason to believe
that some definite announcement concern
ing the matter may be expected at an early
day. As to the manner of conducting the
negotiations, little. information can be
gained at this time, owing to the extreme
reticence Of all parties concerned, but the
essential point is that Great Britain and
Venezuela, whose relations have been
strained so badly that there has been no
diplomatic relations between them for sew
eral years, are once more in a fair way to
a resumption of direct communication with
each other, and that step has been taken
which may pave the way to an amicable
adjustment of the vexatious and threaten
ing boundary dispute. When inquiry was
made at the British embassy Sir Julian
Pauncefote said that it was impossible to
make any statement on the subject. Senior
Andrade, the Venezuelan minister, was
equally reserved, although his secretary
declared that the minister had had no di-
rect communication with the British em-
bassador. This would indicate that the ne
gotiations have proceeded through an in
termediary or by correspondence.
In this latter respect the Uruan AFFAIR.
which originally threatened to involve
Great Britain and Venezuela in serious
trouble, may prove to be a blessing In dis
guise to those who desire a peaceful and
early settlement of the difficulties between
tions (Which have been suspended for about
ten years. are re-established, it is felt that
In the present temper of both Great Brit
ain and Venezuela, the way will be opened
to direct negotiations respecting the boun-
dary question, and in this manner a settle
ment will be effected without the interven-
ton of any third nation. 1t is understood
that the original British demand for in
demnity for the Uruan affair has been so
modified as to eliminate II entirely from the
boundary question:. and thus render the
stands, the British contention is simply
that a British officer was ill treated, with
out reference to where the i'll treatment
occurred, and on this a demand for in
demnity is based. In other words. the Brit
ish demand assumes that there is a right
to exact indemnity even If the British off,
cial was in Venezuela at the time of his ar
rest. Put thus, the case closely resembles
that of Corinto, where Great Britain ex-
acted indemnity from Nicaragua for the
the problem in this fashion and again open
ing direct negotiations, the special tribunal
created by the United States to ascertain
the location of the boundary line may be
rendered useless. but if boundary agree
ment is reached that is satisfactory to
Great Britain and Venezuela, there. can be
no doubt that it would be hailed with re-
lief by this country and would be welcomed
by the administration, as was made plain
by the President in his celebrated message