New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-18
WORKING FOR ARBITRATION
Continued from First PRgc.

Lord Salisbury says he fears that the first re-
suit of compulsory arbitration OF territorial
claims will be an enormous multiplication OF
their number. and he questions whether the
benefits of preventing from such disputes
may not be outweghed by a system generating
n multiplicity of international litigation blgh'-
ing the prosperity of the border countries eN
posed to It. and leaving the inhabitants uhoer
the enduring threat either OF forclb'e chahge
OF allegiance or OF exile. He declares tnat 'he'e
are essential differences between Individual III"
National rights to land. which make IL imposs'-
Bile to apply the well-known laws OF real prop
erty to territorial dispute
In conclusion Lord Salisbury says: 1T APP
pears to me that under these circumstances II
will be wiser. until our experience oi "''e''"
tionaI arbitration is greater FOR na'ions W ie
,air IN ther own hands some control over the
ultimate result Of any claim that may be ad-
vanced against their territorial rights
A VENEZUELAN SETTLEMENT PROPOSED.
CIR Julian pauncefote on June 10 had a confer
ence with Secretary Olney regarding the 'ehe~-
ra,.r controversy and two days later sent to the
Secretary the instructions from Lord SALISBURY
unon which his visit had been based. In these.
under date of MAY D. the British Premier fore
sees the possib,lity Of failure In the attempt TO
agree 6n the general arbitration system. ana pro-
noses q settlement OF the Venezuelan dispute. In
which he declares that from the first 1t has been
objectionable to subject to the decision OF an ar
bitter who in the last resort must OF necessity
no a FOREIGNER the rights of British colonists who
have settled in the country. believing 1t to be
british commission consisting OF four mem
bers two to be British subjects and two citizens
~ the limited States Is proposed to report upon
the facts which affect the rights OF spain and
Holland at the date OF Great Britains acquisition
of British Guiana Upon the report OF such COM
mission 1t is stipulated that Great Britain ana
Venezuela shall endeavor to agree on bound
arv but failing I'm this tribunal was TO be APP
nointed consisting of one British subject and one
Venezuelan and they to select third, VINO
should fix the line Of boundary; but with pro-
yiso that II should not include as Venezuelan ter
rtory any territory which was occupied by BTU
ish coonists on or before January !, 1884, OF as
territory OF Great Britain any occupied By EeneZ-
uelans at the same time.
Mr. Olney on June II declared that his Govern
ment was unable to treat this proposal as wei
ADAPTED to bring the dispute TO speedy conciu-
sion or as giving due recognition to the JUST
rights Of the parties concerned
VENEzUELA'S RIGHTS TO BE UPHELD
Secretary Olney adds: But as Great Britain
asks for the rule and Venezuela opposes II, the
inevitable deduction comedies with the undis-
,,ted fact namely that the formers interest Is
believed to be promoted by the rule. while the
latter's will be prejudiced. venezuela
is no. to be stripped of her rightful possessions
because the British Government has enormously
encouraged it's subjects to believe that such pos
sessions were British. In but one possible con-
tingcncy could any claim Of that sort by Great
Britain have even a semblance OF pausibility. II
Great Britains assertion Of jurisdiction on the
faith OF which her subjects made settlements In
territory subsequently ascertained to be VeneZ-
uelan could be shown TO have been In any way
assented to acquiesced In by Venezuela the
latter Power might be held to he concluded and
to he estopped from setting up any title to such
settlements But the notorious facts OF the case
are all the other way Venezuela's claims and her
protests against alleged British usurpation have
been constant and emphatic. and have been
forced by all the means practicable for a weak
Power to employ in its dealings with a strong
one even to the rupture Of diplomatic relations.
1t would seem to he quite impossible. therefore.
that Great Britai, should justify her asserted
jurisdiction over Venezuelan. territory upon
which British subjects have settled In reliance
upon such assertion by pleading that the asser
ton bona fde. without full notice OF what
ever rights Venezuela may prove to have"
NOTIFICATIONS SUGGESTED
Secretary Oney declares that in the opinion
OF the United States. Lord Sasbury's proposals
can be made 10 meet the requirements and JUS
tice Of the only If amended along the follow
ing lines:
THE Commission upon facts should be SO con-
adding ,ler baf
1t must reach result. and cannot become
abortive and possibly mischievous.
THAT Commission should have power to re-
port upon all the facts necessary to the de-
csion of the boundary controversy. including
the facts pertaining to the occupation Of the dis
puted territory by British subjects
THE proviso by which the boundary line, as
drawn by the Arbtral Tribunal Of three Is not
to include territory bona fde occupied by British
subjects or Venezuelan citizens January l.
1887, should be stricken out altogether or there
might be substituted for II the following:
Provided. however. that In fixing such line
II territory OF one party he found in the occupa-
ton of the subjects citizens of the other party
such weight and effect be given to such occupa-
tion reason. justice. the rules Of international
law and the equities of the particular case may
appear to require.
on the same daytime 12-Secretary Olney
acknowledged the copy Of Lord Sasburys dis
patch OF May IL. and promised speedy considera-
ton, but declared that In the mean time he de-
sired to call attention again to the fact that so
far as the Venezuelan dispute concerned
the position Of the United States had been
plainly defined. not only by the Executive but
by the unanimous cOncurring action Of both
branches Of Congress- and that a genuine arbi-
tration, finally disposing Of the controversy
would be cordially welcomed
On the other hand he declared that, while
a treaty Of general arbitration providing for q
tentative decision merely upon territorial claims
might be accepted by this Government as a
step in the right direction. 1t would not feel at
liberty to include the Venezuelan boundary dis
pute within the scope OF such treaty. It Is
deemed advisable" he adds. Ito be thus ex-
plicit in the interest of both Governments. thai
the pending negotiations for a general treat
of arbitration may proceed, without any misap-
prehension.'
HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT
The correspondence ends with a letter. dated
June 90 from Secretary Olney to Sir Julian
ra..noakota In u,hich he renlies Lord Salis-