The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-11-20
NOT YET SIGNED.
the Protocol of the Proposed Vene-
zuelan Treaty
s,u, subject to Emend stion--A Continuous
Excnang. of Cable Messages Being
Kept Up On Matters of Fetal lie
tween Washington aud London.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE fact that
the protocol of the proposed Venezue-
Ian treaty Of arbitration has not yet
heep signed is made manifest by many
signs to-day. There has been con-
,inuous exchange of cable messages
an matters of detail between this city
and London. But that SOME general
principle of agreement has been de-
iermincd upon is undoubted a, has
r,neatedly been stated in these dis
Matches. The question Of whether or
not Venezuela is party to the agree
ment appears to be settled by the Off
eial correspondence and by collateral
facts. When Secretary Olney on be-
half of Venezuela made his first
pcremptory demand on Great
britain for arbitration, Lord
salisbury. after long delay. re-
snonded with two vigorous letters.
one Of them attacked the Monroe doc
trine, claiming that Mr. Olney was
stretching it too far. The other at
tackled the Venezuelan demands, as
sorting that they were cxorbitant.
Then President Cleveland sent in to
congress MS luHlDuS AnTlSLfllIS mes
sage. and Lord Salisbury, on May %
last. wrote TO Sir Julian Pauncefote,
accepting for the first time the princ-
pies Of arbitration, but only in par
tial form, and combining it TO Great
britain and the United States lie
ass Sir Julian to submit this PROPOSE
ton ito the government of the United
safes, acting as the friend OF Vcne-
zuela in this matter"
His proposition was for n commits
sion ~ be created by agreement be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States to be composed of two British
subjects and two citizens of the United
states To investigate and report upon
the facts, without referring 10 infer
ences but the finding of the commits
sion TO be binding upon both govern
ments In this letter he distinctly
specified the United States. aud not
Venezuela, as the party of the second
part; but still there was con-
tanned proposition in Lord Sails.
bury's letter TO Sir Julian which
seemed to imply some necessity
FOR consent on the part of Venezuela,
inasmuch as it was provided that on the
report OF the commission being issued.
the two governments of Grea. Britain
and Venezuela should "endeayor to
agree to boundary line, and failing
agreement, there should be arbitra-
tion by three, one OF Great Britain. one
by Venezuela. and they to select a
third. with proviso that all settle
ments of British subjects prior to the
hrst of January, 1887, were TO be ex
empted.
On June l2, 1896, Secretary Olney ac-
cepted this challenge, but with most
important notifications, since acceded
TO, providing that the commission
should be amended by adding another
member. SO that it must reach a result.
and also provided that the commission
should have power to decide the
boundary question subject to the egui- /
ties of each particular case of actual
settlers (since limited to 80 years OF
undisturbed occupation).
Nowhere after this date doess Veen- I
zuela appear in the negotiations as
principal or as having n right to Sc
lect an arbitrator.
In support of the idea that the
treaty is to be between Great Britain
and the United States. the latter ct.
log as Venezuela's friend. it is pointed
out that If the formal assent of that
republic is required to any protocol on
Tie boundary question, it could not
he obtained under the most favora bile (
considerations till long after the ad- I
ministration of President Cleveland
VIII have expired by limitation.
The constitution OF Venezuela re. I
CURES all treaties to be ratified ,
by vote of both houses of
the legislature in joint session. The I
legislature of Venezuela does not con-
'ene in regular session till February
next Even il an extra session were
u be called il would take five-weeks' \
notice To get it together. Under tho 4
usual methods of procedure. in Latin \
American countries the summer If ls9, t
would be well advanced before the leg.
Sature would be ready to begin to
consider the question.