The record-union., 1896-11-12
Protocol Of the Proposed Treaty Of Arbi-
tratiOn Not Yet Signed.
The Matters of Detail Have First to be
Arranged.
General Miles, in His Annual Report,
Asks an Appropriation of Nearly
Million Dollars for the COnstruc-
tion of Defense for San Francisco
HarbOr.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE fact
that the protocol of the proposed Vene-
zuelan treaty of arbitration has not yet
been signed is made manifest by many
signs to-day. There has been a con-
tinuous exchange of cable MESA ges on
matters of detail between this city and
London. But that some general prin-
ciple of agreement has been determined
upon has already been stated in these
dispatches.
When Secretary Olney, on behalf of
Venezuela, made his first peremptory
demand on Great Britain for arbitra-
ticn, Lord Salisbury. after long delay,
responded 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
serting that they were exorbitant Then
President Cleveland sent into Congress
his famous Christmas message, and
Lord Salisbury, on May 22d last, wrote
to Sir Julian Pauncefote accepting for
the first time the principles of arbitra-
ton, but only in a partial form, and
combining it to Great Britain and the
United States. He asks Sir Julian to
submit this proposition ito the Govern
ment of the United States acting as the
friend of Venezuela in this matter"
His proposition was for a commits
sion to 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 recurring to infer
ences, but the finding to be binding
upon both nations. In this letter he dis
tinctly specified the United States and
not Venezuela as the party of the sec
end part, but still there was propo-
sition in Lord Salisburys letter to Sir
Julian which seemed to imply some nee
essary form of consent upon the part
Of Venezuela, inaSmuch as it was pro-
vided that on the report of the commits
sion being issued the two Governments
Of Great Britain and Venezuela should
'erdeavor to agree to boundary line"
and failing again there should be arbi-
| tration by three, one by Great Britain,
one by Venezuela, and they to select q
third, with a proviso that all settlements
of British subjects prior to the lst of
January, 1887, We're to be exempted.
On June Il, 1896, Secretary Olney ac-
cepted this challenge, but with most
important notifications, since ac-
ceded to, providing that the commits
sion should be amended by adding an
other member, and also provided that
the commission should have power to
decide the boundary question, subject
to the equities of each particular case
Of actual settlers (since limited to fifty
years of undisturbed occupation).
Nowhere after this date does Vene-
zuela appear in the negotiations as a
principal or as having a right to select
an arbitrator. In support of the idea
that the treaty IS to be between Great
Britain and the United States, the lat
ter acting as Venezuela's friend, it is
pointed out that If the formal assent of
that republic is required to any proto-
col on the boundary question it could
rot be obtained under the most favor
able circumstances until long after the
administration of President Cleveland
will have expired by limitation The
Constitution of Venezuela requires all
treaties to be ratified by vote Of both
houses of the Legislature in Joint ses-
sion. The Legislature of Venezuela
does not convene in regular session un-
I'll February next. Even if an extra
session were to be called, it will take
hVe weeks notice to get it together
Under the usual methods of procedure
IN Latin-American countries. the sum-
mer of 1897 would be well advanced be-
fore the Legislature would be ready to
begin to consider the question