The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-11
VENEZUELAN QUESTION.
4sETTLEMTNI VIII PROBABLY DE
REACHED soon.
A Final Decision on the Fart of tho Com
mission VIII Hardly Ee Necessary.
Letters Given Out In Washington.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Nov. lO.-The
Venezuelan commission met to-day with
all members present. The report Of Pro-
fessor Burr, who has been at The Hague
studying Dutch archives WAS received
and the Professor was heard on II.
Mr.. Mamet Provost, secretary OF the
commission, made the following state
ment after to-days session:
The statements Of Lord Salisbury as
reprinted in the morning papers makes
II probable that the boundary dispute
now pending between Great Britain ana
Venezuela will be settled by arbitration,
at an early day. Under these circum-
stances the commission while con-
Timing its deliberations in the
preparation and orderly arrangement OF
many valuable maps. reports and docu-
ments. which have been procured ana
used I'm the course OF its labors, does not
propose TO formulate any decision, for
the present. of the matters subject TO It's
examination. IL will continue It's ses-
sions from time TO time, but with the
hope and expectation that a friendly and
just settlement OF all pending differences
between the nations interested will make
LETTERS EXCHANGED.
Two letters which were exchanged be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain regarding Venezuela since the pre-
sentatlon Of Mr.. Olneys counter propo-
si.lon OF June 18th, were given to the
press at the State Department this af
ternoon, and help materially to clear up
the situation. In a dispatch of May p.
1896 Lord Salisbury had proposed an
evenly divided commission 10 report upon
the territory in dispute outside the So
called settled districts. and Secretary Oh
ney had suggested the provision for
commission OF unequal numbers. The
next dispatch was from Lord Salisbury
TO Sir Julian Pauncef0te, ana was as
follows:
Foreign Ofice, July 3. 1896.
Sir have 10 acknowledge your Ex-
cellency's dispatch of 18th June. enclos-
ing note from Mr.. Olney. in which ne
explains the reasons which induce the
Government Of the United states TO
withhold their assent from the propo-
sails with respect to the Venezuelan from
tier contained in my dispatch OF the 22d
OF May.
''ihe arguments by which Mr.. Oney
supports this view will receive the care
ful consideration of her Majesty's Gov
eminent. 1 am not now writing to
you for tho purpose Of discussing them.
Neutrality-suspicious..
My object in addressing your Excel
lency 10 TO point out that in matter Of
some importance, Mr Olney. owing.
dougtless TO the inadequacy Of my own
explanation. has misapprehonded the pur-
port OF the proposal which I had the
n ma 70 -tr II ts.t
1T appears to be a fundamental condi-
ton that the boundary line decided 10
be the true one by the arbitrators. shall
not operate upon territory bOna-fde.
occupied by a British subject shall he
detected In every case so as TO make
such territory part Of British Guiana.
This was not the intention OF my pro-
pOsals. and the language OF my dispatch
of the I'D Of NAV does not. think
fairly bear this construction. l propos-
ed that the tribunal should not have
power 10 include such districts as the
territory OF Venezuela but Ibid not
propose that they should not necessarily
be assumed without further proof TO be
part of British Guiana. I only stipulated
that tho ownership Of them was not to be
decided by the tribunal. which in our
Judgment. was inadequate for this pUr-
pose though a. vas adequate for the
assignment of tho unsettled districts. TIE
settled districts. shown 10 he I'm dispute
hy the inquiries Of the commission. We're
t. he disposed Of by subsequent neso-
t1ti0n.
"The claim Of Venezuela is so far
reaching that 30 brings into question in
torosts and rights viii cannot properly
be disposed of by am unrestricted arll-
tr7fion II extends as far as the Esse-
Quiho: In covers two-thirds Of the colony
Of Fritish Guiana. 70 impeachcs titles
which have been unquostioned FOR many
generations. These districts must b..
treated separately. ana until further in
quiry has thrown more light up,n the
matter. 10 is only by reserving the SET
lied districts generally that this can be
done.
"The view Of her Naiesty's Govern
mcnt is that where the matter in issue
IS Of great importance. and involves
rights which belong 10 "A considerable
population. and are deeply cherished by
them. special precautions against any
miscarriage Of justice are required. OF
which have indicated the general char
actor I'm this correspondence. hut which
are not required where a title to un-
occupied territory is alone in issue. II
is for this reason that her Maiesty's
Government proposed 10 except these
districts from tho jurisdiction Of the ar
biull tribunal. though IL could deal ade-
ouatcly with the disputed claims 10
territory which is not occupied. But
they did not intall by that stipulation
T. ask the Government u the United
states to proiudce anv questions which
had been raised or might be raised with
respect 20 tho ownership Of settled dis
tricfs.
This part OF the subject. confessedly
the mos; difficult part would have been
reserved for separate examination.
Il should wish you to ofer this expla-
nation 10 Mr.. CmCy when you have an
opportunity. and II ne desires II. give
him a copy OF this dispatch. | will re-
serve for another occasion the observa-
tions which. after consideration, l may
have to make in reply TO The general
argument OF his note.
(Signed) SALISBURY"
OLNEY'S REPLY.
Secretary Olneys reply 10 this letter
follows:
Department OF State.
washington. July l3. 1896.
"Excellcncy,-I have the honor 10 ac-
knowledge the receipt from you Of copy
of Lord SalisbUy's dispatch 10 you or
the 81 instant. It's object is TO explain
that his Lordship. In his previous dis
patch Of May 22d. did not intend that
the boundary line fixed by the proposed
arbltral tribunal should include in Brit
ish Guiana any territory bona iide occu-