Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-01-25
TO GIVE TESTIMONY
Venezue an Commission invites
Both Governments.
IN AVERY COURTEOUS LETTER
Realizes That -, Position Is Almost
without Parallel in the la"
OF NaIioHs.

washington, Jan. 20.-The Nenezue-
Ian commission has invited the gov
arnments of Great Britain and Nenezue-
u IN submit to it all OF the evidence
in their possession 10 further the WORK
of the commission, to be represented
before it by attorneys, and all Oh IHls
with the reservation that such repre-
sentation and appearance shall not be
deemed an abandonment of any rights
or position heretofore assumed. 1t mas
done this in order that the proceedings
of the commission may not De Salu 70
he ex parte, that the truth may ap-
pear. and that time may be SaNeu III
the inquiry with which the commission
il charged. The invitation is IN the
shape of a letter to Secretary Olney'
who has made a response, saying that
he has transmitted a copy of the COM
missions views to the two govern
ments concerned. These facts came OUT
after the meeting Of the COMMISSION
today, although the letter was Drawn up
And sent to the secretary OF state at us
last meeting, January 10.
The full text of the letter is as FOL
lows
"Ofice of the Venezuelan Boundary
Commission, Washington, Jan. To- l69o'-
The Honorable Secretary of State-DeaI
Sir: l have the honor to state mat the
commission appointed by the president Oh
the United States to investigate and re-
port upon the true divisional line between
the republic of Venezuela and British
Guiana has organized by the election OF
Hon David j. Brewer as its president ana
is entering upon the immediate discharge
nf IT'S duties. 1t has concluded after
careful consideration to address you on
the question of securing as far as posi-
Bile the friendly cooperation ana ad OF
the two nations which are directly inter
ested in the now pending boundary differ
ences. 1t must have suggested itself to
YOU, as it has no doubt to the president,
that this commission, authorized to ascer-
tain and report the boundary line between
two foreign nations, bears only remote
resemblance to those tribunals OF inter
national character of which we have had
several examples in the past They are
constituted by or with the consent of the
disputants themselves and were author
lied by the parties Immediately concerned
to pronounce final judgment. The ques-
lions at issue were presented by the adVo-
Gates of the various interests. upon whose
diligence and skill the tribunal might safe
ly rely for all the data and the argu-
ments essential to the formation of an
intelligent judgment. Their functions
were, therefore, confined to the exercise
of judicial powers and they might fairly
expect to reach a result satisfactory to
their own consciences, while 1t command
ed the respect of those whose interests
were directly involved
1.-THE present commission, neither by the
mode of it's appointment, nor by the ma
ture of its duties, may be said to belong TO
tribunals of this character. Its duty Will
be discharged if it shall diligently and
fairly seek to inform the executive office
of certain facts touching a long extent OF
territory, in which the United States have
no direct interest Whatever may be the
conclusions reached, no terrltorlal aS-
grandizement or material gain in any
form can accrue to the United states. Ihe
sole concern of our government Is the
peaceful solution of the controversy be-
tween friendly nations, for the just and
honorable settlement of the title to dis
puted territory, and the protection of the
United States against any fresh acquisi-
ton in our hemisphere on the part OF any
European state. 1t has seemed proper TO
the committee under these circumstances
to suggest to you the eXpediency of calling
the attention of the governments of Great
Britain and Venezuela to the appointment
of the committee and explaining both its
nature and object. 1t may be that they
will see a way entirely consistent with
their own sense of international propri-
ETY. to give the committee the aid that it
is no doubt in their power to furnish in
the way of documentary proof, historical
narrative unpublished archives or the
like. 1t is scarcely necessary TO say that
If either should deem it appropriate to des-
ignate an agent or attorney whose duty
il would be to see that no such proofs
were omitted, or overlooked, the commits
sion would be grateful for such evidence