The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-29

Washington, Dec. 2S. Secretary Olney
left the State Department nj II
O'Clock to-day and went direct to the
British embassy, where he held IL long
conference by appointment with Sir Ju-
Liam Pauncefotc. the British ambassador,
relative to the status of the Venezuelan
settlement and the general treaty of ar
bitration between the United States and
Great Britain. Mr.. Olney's call followed
the arrival of Minister Andrade, of
Venezuela, and James j. Storrow, coun.
ST! in the Venezuelan case. who reached
Washington late last evening.
The results of the conference were
guarded with the usual secrecy which
prevails ut meetings between the Secre.
tary and the ambassador, but there is
good reason to believe it was the occasion
Tor going over the several phases OF the
Venezuelan question which have developed
with the return of the officials from
Caracas.
The officials themselves are extremely
reticent and will say only in general
terms that the prospects OF IN acceptance
by Venezuela are good. 1t is understood,
however, that there are important limi.
tations to this acceptance which appear
to make the case less hopeful of an i'm
mediate and satisfactory conclusion than
has been expected. The plan of an extra
session of the Venezuelan congress has
been practically abandoned When the
settlement WAS made in Washington two
months a"o little doubt existed that an
extra session would be called Immediate
ly by President Crespo.
Messrs Andrade and Storrow left for
Caracas To urge President Crespo and the
government authorities to secure an inn
mediate acceptance. On arriving at
Caracas Mr.. Andrade cabled Secretary
Olney that President Crespo would call
an extra session. This was received with
satisfaction at the State Department as
an e 'idence that Venezuela would act
promptly. n.
Since then, however, no call for an en-
ira session has been issued Ii has de-
veloped also that stong sentiment cX-
listed against an extra session coming
only IL short while before the regular SEES.
sion of February 20. AS thirty days
must elapsc after the notice of in extra
session, the congress could not possibly
convene before February l, or there.
abouts. Under these circumstances il i,
practically settled that there will he no
extra session, but that the regular ses
sion will he advanced twenty days under
the custom prevailing i'll Venezuela.
The congress meets for two months. ac.
twenty days beyond the two months. 1t
is felt that this extension might be added
to the beginning of the session with the
same propriety us the end of the session.
For this reason the present outlook is
that the Venezuelan authorities will con
Vene congress on February l. or twenty
days ahead Of the usual time.
There appears also to be much aues-
ton as to the nature of Nenezuela's nc
ceptance. President Crespo and the gov
erllment authorities have expressed their
satisfaction with the general results OF
the settlement so far rs they secured ar.
duration, yet they have not expressed
official approval of all the details of the
settlement. On the contrary. there
seems to be very earnest desire at Car
acas for more exact information on the
terms of the treaty between Venezuela
and Great Britain:
When the settlement was made at
Washington rough draft of the general
features OF the settlement was made.
This contemplated the subsequent nego-
tlhtlon OF nm arbitration treaty between
Great Britain and Venezuela, on the
ground lines prescribed by the settle
ment But the Venezuelan authorities
preier to see the treaty itself, instead OF
an agreement for II treaty, and the pres
ent indications are that Venezuela viii
give no acceptance until the entire phras
eoiogy OF the treaty with all its terms
ana qualifications are completed This
may take considerable time.
The general expectation was that
Venezuela would first accept the proposed
method If settlement Then diplomatic
relations between Great Britain and
Venezuela would follow rs matter OF
course when these relations were re
estapisned the British minister at Cara
cas- could readily take up the negotiations
of the proposed arbitrative treaty.
AT present, however there is no dispo-
sition to await the gradual maturing Of