The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-21
IT IS A PEACE COMMISSION.
President BfsYsy kskS for The Cc-Cp 7
ton Of Great 6rilaln
IN The YENFzU LAs IaYESTIGAlk
lie Also Suggests That an Attorney TO frs'
sent the Proofs Of Engisnd's Con-
tention Would Not Mean the
Abandonment of Her Claims.

of the Venezuelan Commission met to-
day al II 80 A. NJ. In their handsome
ly-appointed temporary quarters In the
building partly occupied by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. Justice
Brewer presided The selection OF MT
Smallett Provost, OF New York, as the
executive omcer Of the commission. was
ratified.
Mr.. Provost was not present. but It was
stated that he would take hold OF MS
duties on Wednesday next.
The commission gave out Tor pubuca-
tion the following letter addressed 10
Secretary Olney, last week. inviting IN
formation from the two governments
chiefly interested in the boundary con-
troversy:
"Ofnce OF the Venezuela Boundary Com
mission,
washington. u. c, January l5. 1896.
"The Honorable Secretary ~ state;
Dear Sir.--I have the honor TO state
that the commission appointed hy the
President OF the United States TO inNes-
tigate and report on tho true divisional
line between the republic OF Nenesues
and British Guiana has organized ny
the election OF Hon David j. Brewer
as its president. and Is entering upon
the immediate discharge OF its duties.
COOPERATION.
"1n so doing. II has after careful con-
sideration, concluded 70 address you on
the question Of securing 50 far as possi-
bic, the friendly cooperation and aid
OF the two nations. which are directly
interested In the now pending boundary
differences.
1T must have suggested itself to you.
as it no doubt has to the President that
/ this commission thus authorized 10 as
! certain and report on the boundary nne
| between two foreign nations. bears only
a remote resemblance 20 those tribunals
Of an international character. OF which
we have had several examples in the
past.
There were constituted by or with the
| consent of the disputants themselves. and
were authorized by the parties immedi-
ately concerned 10 pronounce a ilnal
| judgment.
THE questions at issue were presented
! by the advocates Of the various inter-
ests. upon whose diligence and skill the
tribunal might safely rely for all the
data and the arguments essential to the
formation OF an intelligent judgment.
! Their functions were therefore con-
fined to the judicial powers. and they
might fairly expect TO reach result sat
| isfactory to their own consciences. while
|
interests were directly involved.
THE COMMISSIONS CHARACTER.
THE present commission, neither by
the mode of its appointment nor by the
| nature OF its duties. may be said TO
belong 10 tribunals OF this character
| It's duty will be discharged II il shall dill
gently and fairly seek to inform the
executive of certain facts touching a
| large extent OF territory In which the
| United States have no direct interest.
| Whatever may be the conclusion reached.
no territorial aggrandizement nor mate
rial gain In any form can accrue 10 the
| United States
THE sole concern OF our Government
il the peaceful solution OF a controversy
between two friendly powers. for the
just and honorable settlement OF the title
to disputed territory and the protection
| OF the United States against am fresh
acquisitions I'm our hemisphere on the
part of any European State.
1T has seemed proper to the commits
sion. under these circumstances 10 sug-
g>t TO you the expediency OF calling the
| attention of the goVcrnments or Great
Britain and Venezuela TO the appoint
ment Of the commission and explaining
! both ITS nature and object.
1T may be that they will see a way, en-
tirey consistent with their own sense or
international proprety, to give the COM
| mission the aid that IL Is no doubt In
their power to furnish In the way Of
documentary proof. historical narrative,
unpublished archives. or the like
AN EVIDENCE OF GOODWILL.
1T Is scarcely necessary to say that II
either should deem IL appropriate to desig-
nae agent or attorney. whose duty II
would be to see that no such proofs were
omitted or overlooked. the commission
would be grateful for such evidence OF
goodwill and for the valuable results
which would be likely 10 follow there
from.
ANY act OF either government In the
direction here suggested might be ac-
companied by an express reservation az
TO her claims and should not be deemed
20 be an abandonment or impairment OF
any position heretofore expressed In
other words, and In lawyers phrases.
each might be willing TO act the part OF
an amicus curiae and TO throw light upon
difficult and complex questions Of fact
which should be examined as carefully
az the magnitude OF the subject demands.
"fhe purposes Of the pending invessi-
| CATION are certainly hostile TO none, nor
can II be OF advantage to any that the
machinery devised by the Government
Of the United States to secure the de-
sired information should tail Of It's pur-
pose. DAVID j. BREWER.
President"
TO this communication. Secretary Or
ney replied, stating that he presented
| the subject OF the communication 10 SiF
Julian Pauncefote. the British ambassa-
dor. and 10 Minister Andrade the vene'
zueianl representative. Tor transmission
to their respective governments.
THE BUSY DAY.
The Commission then adjourned I'LL
Friday next. IL being the understanding
that Friday Is to be the busness-day
OF the Commission.
The only employees so far determined
upon are the secretary (or executive or
icer), one stenographer, and door
keeper and messenger.
The Commission. finding that In New
England and elsewhere the are coliec
tions OF ancient maps. desire II to bo un
derstood that any documents OF tn
kind entrusted 10 them for their fnforma
ton. will be carefully preserved and ~