The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-12
BACKD0WN BY GREAT BRITAIN.
THAT'S WHAT THE VENEZUELAN
AGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE.


Iics-OnIy One Point ON Which Sec
rotary OIney's Diplomacy Is Crit
icised.
Washington, Nov. 11-Some misappre-
hension still seems to exist in regard to
the scope and Importance of Lord Sails
bury's speech In London on Monday even
ing intimatlng that England aud the Unit
ed States have agreed upon a settlement
of the Venezuelan boundary dispute. There
is no cause for misunderstanding of the
facts, however. The truth is SAat on Mon
day last Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British minister, con-
cluded In this city the final terms of agree
ment in the long diplomatic dispute and at
once telegraphed the result to London. An
hour or two later Lord Salisbury, In his
Mansion house speech, made known to the
world that England had agreed to the de-
mand of the United States to arbitrate the
question at Issue, thus recognizing the
right of the United States to uphold the
principles of the Monroe doctrine and to
apply them to the recent attempt of Eng
land to encroach upon Venezuelan terri
tory.
1t is altogether premature, however, to
say that a treaty Of arbitration has been
agreed to between the United States and
England. All that has been accomplished as
yet is an agreement as to the terms of a
protocol. Any treaty arrangement must
afterward be submitted TO the United
States and the English government for
approval and ratification. The terms OF
the protocol are substantially these:
England comedies to the demands
of the United States to arbtrate the
question Of the ownership of all the terri
tory in dispute, the only stipulation be-
ing the mutual agreement that fifty years
of uninterrupted exclusive and peaceful
occupancy of territory shall give private
title. This, of course, applies equally to
British and Venezuelan subjects. 1t com
prises practically all that Secretary Olney
has contended for from the beginning. lie
proposed, it is true, period of sixty
years occupancy as proof or title, but
finally agreed that the limit be reduced
to fifty years. Another point of the agree
ment is that Venezuela shall not furnish
one of the arbtrators. This is regarded
as a complete and full recognition of the
right of the United States to assume.
virtual protectorate over American terri
tory, and 1t is feared by some may opor-
sumo full responsibility for the future po-
litical course of Venezuela and force this
country into the attitude of peace-makec
and guardian of all the South American
governments. This point in the agreement
with regard to the appointment of Impair
tial arbitrators, one from the United
States and none from Venezuela. Is the
only one that has as yet caused serious
criticism of Secretary Olney's diplomacy.
In all other respects the agreements
reached is asserted to be practically a
complete back-1own by England.
Washington, Nov. n.--Considerable sur
prise is manifested in diplomatic and Of
fetal circles that the United States and
Venezuela are parties of the first part
to the arbitration arrangement with Great
Britain. 1t has been supposed that the
sole function Of this country was that
of a mediator. The attitude in which the
United States is now placed, 1t is claim
ed, partakes largely of the position of
protector of the weaker sister republics
Of the continent. This, in the opinion Of
many skillful diplomats, imposes grave
responsibility on this country. With re-
gard to arbitration It is anticipated tnat
some time must elapse before its consun-
nation, or at any event, before Its de-
cision. 1t is thought Justice Brewer,
president of the Venezuelan commission,
will be one Of the American members OF
the tribunal, and one of his colleagues In
that body be associated with him. Either
Justice Alvey, President Gilmor, Or.
White or Mr.. Coudert
London, Nov. 1.-THE Southern Asso-
clated Press has been informed by the
foreign Office that King Oscar II II
Sweden and Norway will be asked to act
as the fifth member of the board of aroi-
tration to which the Venezuelan boundary
dispute will be referred for settlement
The officials of the foreign Office take
exceptions to the statement which have
been made that Venezuela will not be rep
resented directly In the arbitration trl-
bunal. The foreign office authorities sug-
gest that there is still doubt whether
Venezuela will have her own member CT
the tribunal; at any rate, Great Britain
regards the United States representatives
as acting for Venezuela.
The Golbe commenting upon the Vene-
zuean arbitration treaty, says IL well
comes the agreement because II releases
the United States from a false and dan
gerous position. II the commission had
reported adversely to Great Britain, the
paper adds, President Cleveland would
have been forced to attempt to coerce
Great Britain or eat humble pie, with the
result that II the Washington government
had seen ft TO enter the unequal contests
with England. the development of the
United States would have been retarded
for half century. The Globe also says:
ut must be clearly understood that the
constitution OF the new arbitration tribu-
nal is not to establish precedent for
arranging all further disputes between
the United States and the United King
dom in North and South America, nor are
we prepared to recognize Monroelsm as in
ternational law"
The st. James Gazette asks whether the
agreement will not throw into arbitration
all the region between the Schombark line
and the settled territory of Guiana, which
England has declared would never be sub
mitted to arbitration, which course the
United States have declared England
would be forced TO take. IF II does"
says the Gazette, "the American claim
that the agreement Is a square-back down
on the part Of Great Britain, win be diff
fcult to disprove."
New York, Nov. 1.-THE Evening Jou.-
nal prints the following: Commissioner
Frederick Coudert, who arrived In the city
to-day, when questioned regarding the at.
titude OF the commission In regard to the