The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-05
CRESPO MAY REBEL
Unexpected Turn of Affairs in the
boundary Dispute.


WASHINGTON, Dec. Administer
A.ndrade, of Venezuela, will sail from
La Guayra, the seaport of Caracas. on
the 10th instant, arriving at New York
about the 18th and coming direct to
Washington to present in person to Mr..
Olney the position of the Venezuelan
authorities, so far as determined at
present, on the British-Nenezuela set
Element James j. Storrow, who ac-
companied him, is expected ito return
at the same time. They went to Cara
cas- for the special purpose of laying
before President Crespo and his as
.s0olates a copy of the '0lney-SalisbuFy
agreement. Their early return Is a
great surprise. Since their departure
litU4e-1fas come from Venezuela, further
than a general statement that the out
look was promising for an acceptance
of the agreement and treaty. Now
that they have determined to return
at this early day without awaiting the
assembling of the Venezuelan congress,
1t is felt that their meeting with Presi-
dent Crespo has developed some def1n.
tie line of action on the part OF NeneZu-
ella.
So far as can be learned at the state
department. the nature of the ipforma,-
ton which Senior Andrade will bring,
has not been anticipated by adVices to
the department The only information
nouncing his early return. This was
sent from Caracas on Thursday. From
the circumstances attending the miE-
sion Of Messrs Andrade and Storrow.
Il is felt that their return means either
one of two things. viz: A satisfactory
understanding or, else, a desire on the
part Of the Venezuelan authorities to
secure some change in the terms OF the
agreement.
1t has been expected that speedy ac-
ton would be taken to have the Nene-
Zuelan congress pass upon the agrees
ment. On this, however, a cO1aaphea-
ton has arisen. The regular session
opens Feb. 20, so that a delay mntiI f1--s-A
made it unlikely that the s.sc1le cues
ton could be closed III, ~ - 4t secte1efy
I.lSS.ri,f 6 0ufosed. This led to the belief
among officials that President Cregp0
would call a specfal session Of con-
gress, but this developed another COM
plication. The constitution Of Vene-
zuela provides that a notice of thirty
Gays shall be given as to any extra SEES
sion. At best, therefore, congress could
not he got together until about the mid
die OF January. Thus far, no word has
been received that an extra session will
be called. In any event, action by the
Venezuelan congress will have to be
within few weeks Of Mr.. Olney's re-
tirement.
Aside from the action Of the Vene-
zuelan congress on the agreement as a
whole, 1t is believed that the return of
Senior Andrade Will make clear the po-
sition of all parties as to the ffty-year
clause, which is the essential feature Of
the settlement. Schomburgk began pro-
jecting his line IN July. 1871, SO that IL
the territory within this line is to be
treated as occupied" the occupancy
dates back fifty-five years and is five
years more than the arbitration agree
ment requires in order to constitute
lawful possession. From the British
standpoint this f1fty-year clause is
most favorable to them, and 1t has been
feared that Venezuela would take ex-