Evening star., 1897-03-11
SURPRISE TO THEM
Venezuelans Knew Nothing Of the
Proposed Arbitration
UNTIL TEE MATTER WAS CLOSED
President Crespo's Recent Mes
sage to Congress.
1 n d ORS ED THE TREATY

The text of the message to the Eenez-
uelan congress Of President Crespo, whicn
has just reached this country, shows that
the subject of the boundary controversy
was treated at great length befited its
Importance. For one thing. ii was made
clear that Venezuela knew officially nor:-
ing of the arrangements made between
Secretary Oiney and Sir Julian Pauncefotc
for the submission of the boundary ques-
tion to arbitration until the whole matter
had been closed up 1t is evident that the
Venezuelan president did not like this
method of arranging the affairs Of his
country without consultation with him. for
his message shows that he was not alto
gether disposed to accept the arrange
Elent. However, in Difference TO the kin lily
interest shown by the United States in
this matter. he indorsed the treaty and
pressed it upon the attention of the Nencz-
uelan congress to the exclusion of all
other business.
Here is what President Crespo has to
say upon the subject in his message. after
a brief explanation of the circumstances
leading up to the ney-Pauncefole agree
ment:
President CrespO's Message.
AT this juncture Of affairs the govern
ment was informed that on the 18th of No
vember there had been signed in Wash
inSton by his exccllency. Mr.. Olney. Sec
retary of State of the United States. AID
Sir Julian Pauncefcte. ambassador of her
Britannia majesty in Washington. a proto-
col with the essential bases for a treaty
between Venezuela and Great Britain,
which by means of arbitration would put
an end to the old dispute between the two
nations. The bases were then submitted by
the Washington government for the Consid-
GRAFTON of the government, by means OF a
letter to me from his exCellency. Mr. Cleve-
land, in which he manifested the noble de-
Sire to accepted a compact which II.
his opinion just and advanta geous.
The responsibilities of those who IN
trusted with the administration of public
affairs by the suffrage of the people in
crease and become graver when the pres
ervation of interests closely linked with the
national life is the subject TO be dealt with.
There is in the breast of the chief mag
istrate, who has the good of the repuDi
at heart. struggle between the ideas of
the moment and those born of concern
for the future.
to eigh the advantages and risks of .he
Gle and the other, without silencing the
dictates of conscience and reason: suc.r are
the duties, truly arduous of the ruler dur
ing whose term of office has chanced to sail
the settlement of an affair which. like that
CT the Guiana boundary question. has been
growing graver: a struggle without truce.
ard full of lamentabie incidents 70 the
party weak in material defenses.
Divided Opinion.
Public opinion. to which the governing
power must always listen, especially when
the territorial integrity is the subject of
discussion, manifested itself SO divided
to the basis proposed to Venezuela. that il
would have been in vain for the mos;
pert observer to have deCuced from such
adversely of opinion any expression of he
general sentiment. The government in
forming its opinion should naturally take
into consideration the conditions under
which the protocol was signed and pre-
sented. One of the signers was the Secrc-
tary of State of the nation which. fully
alive to the grave consequences of its ac-
uon. generously interpOSed in this dispute
seeking an arrangement which would at
once preserve the laws of the national de-
coru.o and the continental integrity.
The recourse to arbitra ton offered it
SELF and although by no means in the
manner wished for by Venezuela, was
more ConSonent than any other with the
desires manifested. The government deem
ed II proper TO insert in the trslty a vro-
vision that Venezuela should have voice
in the naming of the arbitral tribunal AS
soon as this change was proposed its ac-
ceptance was procured. The action of the
I ilted States had produced a result the
after effects of which were, from a moral
point of view, indspensibly subject TO the
effective and powerful prestige of said ma
An Effort of Good Will.
The plan of settlement was presented
for the consideration of Venezuela with
no proposition for cooperative particina-
ton, contrary to the sovereignty and in
dependence of the republic; further, as the
Cnired States had conducted the negotia-
hons according to their judgment alone the
definite acceptance of the cases will ALWAYS
inVoive Tor them sort of friendly respon-
sibillty which will be, in every case.
guarantee of future harmony between the
two nations represented by the arbitral
tribunal. 1t is eminently just to recognize
the fact that the great republic has siren
uously endeavored to conduct this matter
In the most favorable way, and the result
obtained represents an effort of intelligence
and good will worthy of praise and thanks
from US who are so intimately acquainted
with the conditions of this most compli-
Gated question"
DREDGING THE. Potomac