The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-02-05
A STEP FOR PEACE.
The Venezuelan Tre3ty Signed
at Washington.
ONE MORE ACT YET TO FOLLOW
The Document Must Now BE Ratified by
the Venezuelan Cong ress-Pauncefote
and Andrade Affixed Their Signatures
Contents of the Document.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 3.-As the repre-
sentatives of their respective govern
ments, Sir Julian Pauncefot, >, the Brit
ish ambassador, and Senior Jose An
drade, the Venezuelan minister to
Washington, at the state department..
have signed treaty providing for the
settlement by arbitration OF the long
standing dispute over the boundary be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana,
which has not only ruptured the rela-
tions between the principals and kept
them apart automatically for years,
but has threatened to inv olive the two
great English speaking nations III hos
tihties.
The treaty was really complete sew
eral days ago so far as all of the details
were concerned, except the insertion OF
one name, and there a blank was lett
to sill In with the name of a British
jurist. Some difficulty had been expert
enced in finding the second member OF
the British supreme tribunal who was
willing to assume the arduous task OF
arbitrator and also could be spared from
the bench. Such a person has been
found III Justice Collins and his aD-
pOintment has been ratified by the
British priyS council, necessary for
mality So all was ready for the sigma
ture of the treaty.
Sir Julian came to the state depart
ment in company with his attache,
Henry Outram IrOnside. SenOr
Andrade followed in a short time with
Mr.. StOrrow, and the parties We're
shown at once into Secretary Olney :
private office. where the secretary was
awaiting them. a few minutes delay
occurred before Senior POnte, the at
tache of the Venezuelan legation. came
in. and then the party proceeded at
once to the business OF the day. Mr..
Cridler and Mr.. Bax-Ironside made a
careful comparison OF the two copies,
and then Sir Julian signed both of
them. Ser7r Andrade placed his name
after Sir Julian and Mr.. Cridler af-
fixed tine seals. with the aid of Mr..
BlankfOrd, private secretary to SeCre-
tary Olney, and the treaty was an ac-
cOmplished fact, save the single act of
ratification by the Venezuelan congress.
The signatures, were written with
special pen, beautiful gold holder and
nib. tipped with an eagle feather and
ornamented with a gold heart studded
with diamonds. This was sent from
Venezuela for the purpose and will be
the property of Senior Andrade, brother
of the minister.
The treaty provides that the tribunal
shall consist of five jurists: two on the
part of Great Britain, nominated by
the members of the judicial committee
of her majesty's privy council, namely,
the Right Hon. Baron Herschen and
the Hon. Sir Richard Hem Collins, one
of the justices of her Britannia ma
jesty's supreme court of iudicature :;
two on the part of Venezuela, namely,
the Hon. Melville Weston Fuller. chief
justice of the United States of America,
and one nominated by the justices of
the supreme court of the United States of
America, namely, the Hon. David Josiah
Brewer, justice of the supreme court of
the United states of America; and a fifth
juriSt to be selected by the four persons so
nominated; or in the event of their fail
ure TO agree within three months from the
date of the exchange of ratifications of
the present treaty. to be selected by his
majesty, the king of Sweden and Norway
The jurist so selected shall be president
of the tribunal.
in case of death the supreme judicial
council of England or the United States
supreme court shall, by majority vote, fill
the vacancy.
In deciding the matters of dispute the
tribunal shall be governed by the follow
ing rules:
Adverse holding or prescription during
period of 30 years shall make good
title.
OBJ The arbitrators may recognize and
give effect to rights and claims resting on
any other ground whatever valid accord
ing to international law.
(C) In determining the boundary line,
If terrytory OF one party be found by
the tribunal to have been at the date of
this treaty in the occupation of the sub
jeCts or citizens of the other party, such
effect shall be given to such occupation as
reason, justice, the principles of interna
tional law and the equities of the case
shall, in the opinion of the tribunal, re
Ouirc.
The arbitrators shall meet in Paris.
within 90 days after the pritcd arguments
shall be delivered To them. 1t is left with
the discretion of the tribunal to change
the place of meeting.
All questions considered by the tri
bunal, including the final decision, shall
be determined by a majority of ali the
arbitratOrs.
Each OF the high contracting parties
shall name one person as its agent to at
tend the tribunal and to represent it gen
erally on all matters connected with the
tribunal.
Provision is made for the presentation
of printed arguments and counterargu-
mcntS and all documents and reports
shall be available TO both sides
The decision of the tribunal shall, if
possible be made within three months
from the close of the argument on both
| sides.
The high contracting parties engage to
| consider the result of the proceedings OF
| the tribunal of arbitration as a full, per.
| feet and final settlement of all the ques
| tions referred to the arbitrators.
| The arbitcrs chosen on each side are 70
| be paid by the governments they
| represent.
6ImETALLIoT CHANDLER.