The morning times., 1896-12-07
ARE AGREED ON VENEZUELA
Terms Upon Which the Arbitra-
tors Will Proceed.
CAREFUL RULES LAID DOWN
Contents of the Agreement Which
Has Been Signed by Secretary
Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote.
VIII Be Treated Upon at Length
in the Presidents Message.

The probable asse Mt of Venezuela in the
proposed tEsaty OF arbitration of the Brit
ish Guiana boundary dispute negotiated
through the good Offices OF the United
states. and the practical conclusion of
general arbitration convention between
Great Britain and the United States, it is
stated, viii form two OF the most important
diplomatic announcements in the Presi-
dents message to Congress today.
What is understood TO be in nearly all
essential particulars a copy of The pre-
lltninary agreement entered into some
weeks ago between Secretary Olney and
Sir Julian PaunoefOte on the Venezuelan
matter Is made public.
The draft of the proposed treaty itself
which the Venezuelan Minister, Mr.. An
drade, carried with him to Caracas TO
lay before his government is more elabor-
ate tina u this agreement starts with
preamble OF considerable length and in
that portion which refers to the fifty
year occupation of territory in dispute
embodys other points besides mere occu-
panCy and political control which Will be
taken into consideration by the tribunal.
SUBSTA nee OF THE AGREEMENT
l. The agreement signed by Secretary Olney
and Sir Julian L iuncefoteruns subst antially
as follows:
l. An arbitral tribunal shall be imme-
tiiately appointedto determine the boundary
line between the colony OF British Guiana
and the republic of Venezuela.
2. The tribunal shall consist of two
members nominated by the judges of the
|. supreme Court OF the United States andtwo
members nominated by the judges OF the
British high court of justice-and fifth
selected by the four persons so nominated,
or in the event of their failure to agree
within three months from the time OF their
nomination, selected by the king OF sweden
The person SO selected shall be the president
of the tribunal. The persons nominated
by the judges Of the Supreme Court OF the
United states and the British high court Of
justice, respectively, may be judges OF
either of said courts.
WHAT SHALL BE INVESTIGATED
3. The tribunal shall investigate and
ascertain the extent of the territory be-
longing to, or that might be lawfully
claimed by, the United Netherlands or by
the Kingdom Of Spain, respectively, at the
time of the acquisition by Great Britain OF
the colony of British Guiana, and shall :le-
termine the boundary line between the col
ony or British Guiana and the republic of
Venezuela
4. In deciding the matter submitted
the arbitrators shall ascertain all facts
winch they deem necessary 10 a decision
Of the controversy, and shall be governed
by the following rules, which are agreed
UPON bs Jlic IiED NtllNldItiLls PdALito eiS
rules to he taken as applicable to the case,
aud by Sucn principles OF international law
not Inconsistent Herewith the arbitra
tors shall determine TO be applicable to the
case.
The rules which are to govern the tri-
bunal have been broadened iii the treaty
itself, but as covered in the preliminary
agreement they read as under:
RULES TO GUIDE THEM
Il period OF fifty years snail make, good
title. The arbItrators may deem exclusive
political control OF a district as well as
actual settlement thereof sufficient 10 CON
stitute adverse holding or to make title
by prescription.
2 The erbi;ratOrs may recognize and
give effect to rights and claims resting upon
any other round whatever, valid according
10 existing Internal onal law and on any
principle of Internal onal law which the
arDitrators may deem TO be applicable to
the case and are net IN Contravention TO
the foree oing rules.
g. In determining the boundary line. if
the territory Of one party be found by the
tribunal to have been in the occupation
of the subjects or citizens of the other
party, such effect shall be gwen to such
occupation as reason, Justice the Drinci-
pies of international law and the equities
of the case shall, in the opinion of the
tribunal require.
VENEZUELA Is SATISFIED.
Advices received from Caracas do not
bear out the impress sion that the ehezuelan
Cabinet is dissatisfied with the treaty
or that Minister Andrade, who will shortly
return to the United States, Will bring
with him the draft of new treaty as
modified by the Venezuelan authorities
On the contrary. there are grounds for
the belief that President CreSpo and his
constitutional advisers have given their
full adhesion 10 the proposed treaty.
In regard to a general treaty of arbi-
traton between the United States and
Great BritaiE it is stated that the PreSi-
dents message Will show that the negotid-
lions are practically concluded and that
it will be the Presidents pleasure within
few weeks at the utmost TO lay the
treaty before the Senate for its consider
alton.
1t is substantially finished now except
ing a few matters of detail that are still
the subject of correspondence, but respect
ing which there VIII be little, if any, ad-
ditional delay