New-York tribune., 1897-01-21

/ H..
bound not Under the proposals Of the United
States. the parties enter into an arbitration hav
ing determined beforehand that they Will be
bound. The latter is a genuine arbitration; the
former is a mere imitation which may have its
uses. but like all other limitations cannot COM
pare in value to the real article" In conclusion
Mr.. Olney says: 1T is respectfully submitted
that proceeding OF that sort (such as Lord Sal
isbury suggested) must have tendency to bring
all arbitration into contempt: that each party to
a dispute should decide 10 abide by an award be-
not to enter into II at ALL but. once entering into
II. should be irrevocably bound"
THE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS QUESTION
In discussing the question OF territorial claims.
Lord Salisbury says: There essential differ
ences between Individual and real rights to
land, which make It almost impossible to apply
the we'll known laws Of real property to terri
torial dispute. Whatever the primary origin Of
his rights. the real owner, like the individ
ual owner. relies usually on effective control by
himself or through his predecessor in title for
sufficient length of time But in the case OF
nation. what Is sufficient length Of time and in
what does effective control consist? In the case
CT a private Individual the interval adequate to
make valid title is defined by positive law.
There IS no enactment or usage accepted
doctrine which lays down the length OF time re-
quired for international prescriptions; and no
Will confer territorial property on nation has
been attempted. 1t certainly does not depend
solely on occupation or the exercise Of any clear
ly defined acts. All the great nations In both
hemspheres claim and are prepared to defend
their rights to vast tracts Of territory which
they have In no sense occupied, and often have
not fully explored. The modern doctrine or
'hinterland.' with its inevitable contradictions.
indicates the Uniformed and unstable condition
Of international law as applied to territorial
iofr t,n trtrnf fixn or
control These considerations add to the uncer-
tainty Of any general plan Of arbitration In
territorial disputes"
THE VENEZUELAN TREATY FINISHED
SIR JULIAN PAuNCEFoTp AND SENIOR ANDRADE
WILL SIGN IT AS SOON AS WORD FROM LORD
sALIsBuRy is RECEIVED.
Washington. Jan. 20.-The Ango-Venezuelan
arbitration treaty has been practically conclud-
ed. Sir Julian Pauncefote Is only awaiting
a cable message from Lord Salisbury. when he
and Senor Andrade will sign the duplicate
drafts and forward them to their respective
Governments. The formal conclusion OF the
treaty may take place at the British Embassy
or the Venezuelan Legation at any moment.
The next mail to Caracas leaves Nev-York
by steamer for La Guayra on January q. and 1t
is confidently expected that the Venezuelan copy
will be forwarded then for consideration by the
Congress. whose advice and consent Is essential
to ratification. Reliance is placed on prompt ac-
tion by that body.
The arbitration tribunal will meet in Washing
ton within three months after ratifcations are
exchanged.
BIRMINGHAM PREPARES TO CELEBRATE.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR A MEETING TO coMMEM-
ORATE THE SIGNING OF THE ARBI-
TRAT1oN TREATY.
hoy1 to r3t
ham to-day to perfect arrangements for a suitable
celebration OF the signing OF the general arbitra
ton treaty between the United States and Grea!
Britain Among the speakers was G. F. Parker.
United States Consul A. Birmingham who said
that the treaty would undoubtedly be ratified by
the United States Senate and that the people OF
both countries in the mean time must be patient.
Mr. Parker said that he had recently made tour
OF thirteen OF the American States and had not In
tho of tray a