The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-01
VENEZUELAN COMMISSION
The Report Which Mas Finally Sub.
mitted by 1t.
IMPORTANCE CT THE INVESTIGATIONS
Its I.abors We're Cut short by the
Treaty Negotiated between vcn-
csuein and Great britain.

Washington. February 2S--The report Of
the commission appointed by the president
to determine the true divisional limo be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana,
though q voluminous document. lacks the
interest which might have attached to II.
owing to the fact that the commission did
not make report on tho boundary Quea-
ton, leaving that to BIO determined by the
arbitratcrs decided upon between tho two
governments most interested, Great britain
and Vcrezuoln. The report speaks OF tho
difficulty II encountered at the outset on
account OF the novelty OF the work 10 be-
undertaken, because the commission had no
precedent TO guide It ana as It's results
wcro matter OF the deepest Importance.
Especial reference is made 60 the evident
desire on the part OF the two governments
directly concerned TO aid the commission
In Its investigation, Every cali for infor-
nation OF documents was promptly ra-
spondcd TO- Eulogistie words are spoken
OF the individual citizens OF this country
! Tor pioneering and furnishing books and
pamphlets or other documents In their pos-
session which might seem 20 aid IN reach
ihk AZ NlAiiiilc pi tut nlNu-
lem they had before them. Particular REFER
eice is made to the assistance given Ly
MIR. ii. Leo Phillips. OF the congressional
| library, Justice Windsor. OF Harvard uoi-
| lego, Professor Franklin Jameson, OF Brown
| university; Professor James &. Hanson, OF
tho Wisconsin state university. DR.. de
HAS OF Johns Hopkins. and Marcus baker.
OF the geological survey. Tho work OF each
| OF These gentlemen, their Investigations
and researches into documents and archives
IL highly commended and their assistance
TO the commission gratefully acknowledged
The report In detail statoa the various
| documents, papers, maps, ETC., which tho
commission or its agents examined. Be-
| fore closing. the report speaks IN the high
oet praise ot the asslstance given thcm BY
| the secretary of the commission. NJ Malet-
| Provost.
| In conclusion. the report saws.
May we not properly advert TO the fact
that. while In consequence Of the recent
treaty between the two nations specially
| iutereated, which treaty was brought about
| by the active efforts OF this government.
| our own work has boon determined? Tho
commission has been a factor of no incon-
| siderable Importance In the solution OF tho
| problem.
| II may be Inappropriate for MS to enter
| Into any defense Of the action Of congress-
| In authorizing it's creation and yet 1t may
not be amiss to notice that at that timo
| there had not been developed and was OK
listing no little bitterness OF feeling be-
tween tho people OF Great Britain and Of
the United States. talk Of wnr was album
dant and the business interests Of both ma
tons We're affected periodically by the pos
sibllitics Of conflict. The appointment OF
| the commission. though II had no absolute
| power Of determining the question at isrue,
was accepted IA affording mcans for
| fun Investigation of tho question In dispute
md nsrgrtniufnnut nv IN
partial and dsintercsted. Of the facts re-
lHpectlng the controversial boundary. Tho
| general belief that full disclosure OF the
| facts In respect to this troublesome question
would open the way TO some peaceful solu-
ton or the dispute promptly nllayed tho
arprohonHons of war and all waited until
this commission should have completed Its
examination. Not only was this approhet-
sion of conflict allayed. but each nation
seemed to feel that the creation Of the con-
mission was equivalent to an Invitation to
| the two contestlug nations 10 appear before
the bar Of public opinion and make each
| it's showing aa TO the merits OF It's claims.
1t Is not strange that under the Influence
| of this, each nation proceeded not merely
| to state IN contentious. but 10 examine tho
various Repositories OF evidence In Spain.
Holland Rome, London, GEORGETOWN and
| Caracas for proof OF facts 20 Rustpin such
| contentious and the many volumes OF origl-
nal matter taken from these repositories,
which, since the appointment OF the COM
misalon. have been printed have thrown a
| flood Of light upon the question.
More than that, az each made independ-
! emily It's nomination OF historical and
| other facts. IL would seem that each has
| become Impressed with the conviction that
| the question IL ono OF such nature as to
| justify reference to an arbtral tribunal;
| that there Is no such absolute certainty OF
| right on the part OF either as To justify
q more forcible assertion thereof, and that
| the question is really ono calling for ju-
dioial examination and determination. A
| wise and just view OF the case is that the
| commission has been O factor In bringing
| the two nations into u consent to submit
| the matter In dispute to m arbitral trib-
| unal. We ARE not blind to the fact that
the air today is full Of arbitration. as a
| Just and proper way 10 settle internatlon-
al disputes. and we can but hope that this
commission has helped to the consumma-
| ton OF fuch happy result generally, AS
well as In respect TO this particular dis
| pute.
| II Ia also believed that tho mass Of
documents maps and reports already sub
| mitted. which have been collected, slftef
| and submitted to critical examination by
| the commission, viii prove to be OF great
use TO the arbitral tribunal. materially
| sbrideng their labory and therefore in
| suring much more early solution and set
| Element OF the questions involved than
would otherwise be possible thus remov-
Ing all the more speedily and completely
danger which has threatened normal in
ternational relations for many years past.
THE FIRE RECORD,