The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-07
BRITISH GUIANA
BOUNDARY DISPUTE
Il Will Form au Important Theme 10
the Presidents Message.
AN AGREEMENT HIGHLY INFORMAL
II is Believed That President CrespO
and Advisers Have Given Full Ad.
hesiOn to tho Proposed Treaty.
The Documents Will Soon BE Laid
Before the Senate for COnsldera.
finn

Washington, Dec. 6.-The probable
assent of Venezuela to the proposed
treaty of arbitration of the British Gui-
ana boundary dispute through the
good offices of the United States and
the practical conclusion of a general
arbitration convention between Great
Britain and the United States, it Is
stated, will form two of the most i'm
portant diplomatic announcements in
the presidents message to congress to-
morrow.
What Is understood to be in nearly
all essential particulars, copy of the
preliminary agreement entered into
some weeks ago between Secretary
Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote on
the Venezuelan matter Is made public.
The draft of the proposed treaty itself,
which the Venezuelan minister, Mr..
Andrade, carried with him to Caracas
to lay before his government, is more
elaborate than this agreement. 1t
starts with a preamble of considerable
length and in that portion which refers
to the fifty year occupation of terri
tor.. in dispute embodies other points
beside mere occupancy and political
control which will be taken into con-
sideration by the tribunal. These are
expressed in technical terms which in
national lawyers will understand,
Dut WHICH WOulu not De COIIl-
pretended by others.
The language of the agreement signed
by Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
Pauncefote is largely informal, as, for
instance, a blunt reference to the
King Of Sweden without any of the
customary terms of courtesy and full
titles.
CABINET NOT DISSATISFIED.
No Il 81
bear out the impression that the Vene-
zuelan 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 a new
treaty as modified by the Venezuelan
authorities. On the contrary, there
are grounds for the belief that Presi-
dent Crespo and his constitutional ad-
Visers have given their full adhesion
to the proposed treaty. Under these
circumstances, it will be signed by Mr..
Andrade, representing the South AM
erican republic, and by Sir Julian
on the part of Great Britain, after
which the United States will drop out
of the matter well satisfied to have
been the medium of bringing the two
countries together and of effecting a
settlement Of their long dispute
through the peaceful channel of an
international board of arbitrators.
1t was only in this way, 1t Is stated
on high authority, that such a conclu
sion could have been reached, as dip
lomatic relations between Venezuela
and Great Britain have long been sus-
pended and it was well known that her
majesty's government would not con-
sent that Venezuela should have any
voice in the selection of the board.
While it is entirely true that the rati-
ticatiOn of the treaty must still de-
pend uDon the will of the Venezuelan
congress, no doubt Is felt that that
body will indorse President CrespO's
action.
In regard to a general treaty of arbi-
tration between the United States and
Great Britain it is stated that the
presidents message will show that the
negotiations are practically concluded
and that it will be the presidents pleas
ure within a few weeks at the utmost,
To lay the treaty before the senate for
its consideration. 1t Is substantially
finished now, excepting a few matters
Of detail that are still the subject of
correspondence, but respecting which
there will be little if any additional de-
lay.