New-York tribune., 1896-12-08

American citizens in Austria Hungary. and says
ma. the progress made toward the settlement
OF this question has been most satisfactory.
ne refers to the establishment Of the Central
American "Diet" by the republics of Honduras
Nicaragua and Salvador (adopting the name of
the Greater Republic OF Central America). and
says:
The right Of every citizen arrested in Cuba to
nave the benefit of the ordinary criminal pro-
ceedings guaranteed by existing theaties has
been energetcally insisted upon; the claim of
'he lnsuIar authorities to seize the persons Of
our citizens without process or charge Of crime
ana TO detain them suspects upon mere ad-
minlstrative order has been met with prompt
demand for immediate regular trial or release;
arbitrary restrictions upon ordinary commerce.
decreed by the military power and tending to
impair existing contracts of our citizens have
called forth impressive remOnstrance and prom
ise or redress; the right of our consular repre-
sentatives to address the local authorities in de-
fence OF any assailed interests of Americans,
when questioned. has been uccessfully defended;
and unwarrantable act of interference with our
vessels have been at once resisted The particu-
lars Of many of these cases will be found In the
collected annual volume entitled Foreign Re-
lations Of the United States"
THE COMPETITION CASE
In April last the Competitor. small schooner
of American registry. eluded the vigilance Of the
Federal authorities. took on board men and sup
plies presumably intended to aid the Cuban in
surgents. and reached the coast of that island
near San Cayetano. Being discovered by the
Spanish coast guard, conflict ensued. resulting
in the capture Of number Of those on board as
we'll as the seizure of the vessel. The prisoners
among them several American citizens, were
subjected to summary military trial, which. al
though conducted by an admiralty court alleged
to be competent appeared to have lacked the es-
sential safeguards Of procedure stipulated by
the existing conventions between the United
States ard Spain. This Government promptly
ntervened to secure for its implicated citizens
all the rights to which they were clearly entitled,
including appea! from the pronounced sentence
of death Their cases were subsequently carried
to the higher tribunal at Madrid. which has set
the conviction aside and remanded the cases for
retra
AS the exact Interpretation and effect Of the
articles Of association between the three repub-
lies are not yet fully apprehended the action
necessary or proper to be taken in consequence
thereof Is still under consideration by the De-
partment.
Negotiations still in progress for the COM
petion Of the unfinished work Of the Gillian
Claims Commission.
Relations with China have been made more
friendly by the concession to American citizens
of the right to purchase lands-a right hitherto
conceded to France
GERMANY'S RESTRICTIVE MEASURES.
In respect to the reimpostion Of the tonnage
tax on German shipping. the report says that af-
ter an investigation which showed that port dues
were being collected in German ports on every
American vessel. the United States Ambassador
at Berlin asked for explanation. which
when made was not deemed satisfactory. The
report then refers to the fact that the stringent
measures adopted by Germany "on assumed
grounds of public health" against the importa-
tion Of American cattle and meat products. have
not been ameliorated. but on the contrary the
disposition Of Germany still further to impede
this legitimate traffic has been evidenced by
fresh restrictive measures. The trouble with
the NewYork Life Insurance Company Is re-
ferred to. and the statement is added that con-
tinuing endeavOrs have been made to secure for
American life insurance companies doing bus-
ness In Prussia a hearing in remonstrance
against the restrictions sought to be imposed
upon them, and fair prospects exist OF the ult'-
mate removal Of the interdiction."
THE VENEZUELAN SETTLEMENT.
OF the dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela it saws:
The ng-protracted dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela. In regard TO the bound
ary between the latter Republic and British
Guiana, has for number OF years past at
tracted the earnest attention OF this Government
and enlisted its often-rerewed friendly offlces to
bring about an adjustment OF the question IN
the best interests of right and Justice az deter.
minable by the historical record and the actual
facts. The extended discussion OF the subject
eliminated in JUL of last year by an elaborate
presentation to the British Government OF the
views Of the United States touching the op-
portuneness and necessity OF a final disposition
of the points at issue by the pacific resort OF an
equitable arbitration.
The entire correspondence having been laid
before Congress by the President with his Mes
sage Of December II. 1899. that body provided
for the appointment Of a commission OF emf
nent jurists 20 examine and report touching the
ascertainable facts Of the controversy. with
view to enable this Government to determine its
further course in the matter That Commits
sion has pursued Its labors unremittingly during
the present year. It's researches being greatly
aided by the elaborate statements placed at Its
disposal by both the interested governments. to-
gether with a mass Of documentary evidence
furnished from the archives OF the European
countries that shared In the early discoveries
and settlement Of South America.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION ELIMINATED"
Pending this arduous investigation. however.
the governments Of the United States and Great
Britain have omitted no endeavor to reach
friendly understanding upon the main issue
OF principle through diplomatic negotiation. and
1t Is gratifying to announce that amicabe
ccunsels have prevailed TO induce satisfactory
result whereby the boundary question and It's
associated phases have been at last eliminated
as between this country and England A COM
n,ete accord has been reached between them. by
which the substantial terms OF treaty OF arbi-
tration to be concluded by Great Britain and
Venezuela have been agreed upon. the pro-
visions OF which embrace full arbitration OF
tho whole controversy upon bases alike Just
and honorable to both the contestants. 1t only
remains for the two psrtes directly concerned
70 complete this equitable arrangement by sign
ing the proposed formal treaty, and no douDt
e. entertained that Venezuela which has so
earnestly sought the friendly assistance OF the
f,nited states toward the settlement OF this
am.,ious contention and which has so unre-
servedly confided it's interests to the Impartial
Judgment Of this Government. VIII assent 10
;he formal adjustment thus attained. thus Ior-
a~er ending a dispute involving far-reachlng
nnsaouences TO the peace and welfare or the