New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-01

was in such correspondence by way OF claim Oh
the one side without denial the other. which
tended to show that certain places ana o'Su,e''
were recognized belonging TO one or 'he o'"e'
Government there was nothing winch 'o
said to approximate an agreement as W "''
location of the line dividing the territories u '"'
two nations.
Neither did the multitude oil maps p"'
during tho last three centuries disclose any con-
sensus Of opinion among cartographcrs IN respe'.
to the divisional line. Books OF history ana Ua'e'
were not only lacking in defniteness. Out also III
many respects conflicting In their statements many
of them supporting such statements ny references
to unpublished papers and reports THESE innings
combined to make II clear that no SATISFACTORY
answer could be given TO the question submitted
to us without some investigation OF original uocu-
ments; and the proposition was DEBATED "he'he'
we should ourselves visit Spain and Holland OF
send special agents to make examinations OF the
archives of the two nations and obtain copies oil
the valuable documents TO he found therein
while debating this question. we were ADVISED
ny the Venezuelan Government that IL had caused
an examination 10 be made OF the archives IN
Spain, and copies taken OF such documents iouhu
therein were supposed to throw hght upon 'he
question before us. We were also advised that the
British Government collecting evidence ana
was preparing TO submit to Parliament book cor
tanning the information 1t had thus acquired IL
seemed probable that the collections being made
by the two Governments might relieve us from the
necessity Of personal visits or OF sending special
agents. at Toast aid materially in determining
the line and scope Of examinations
Hence delayed action In this direction. the
first two volumes OF the British Blue Book were
placed In hands the latter part OF March. and
the Venezuelan copies as translated and printed
were received in June. The latter consisted wholly
of Spanish documents. The two volumes OF the
British Blue Book contained little from the Dutch
I'll t,ara rafar snna tn
documents found therein. the documents them
selves were not quoted.
Under these circumstances. our pressing duty
seemed TO be n thorough examination of the
archives at Holland. Accordingly on May Pro-
fessor Burr left to engage in this work He re-
manned abroad until october %. spending his time
mainly in Holland. though visiting London for the
examination Of certain Dutch documents that hal
been surrendered by Holland TO England. n was
assisted in his work by DR.. De Ham, and the re-
suit of their researches is found in Volume H. Mr..
Coudert. of our Commission. spent several weeks
abroad and also his personal attention to this
work of examination. Through the kind assistance
OF Archbishop Corrigan. OF New-Iork City. we OBJ
tanned to the documents found In the Propa-
gdnda al Rome. which contain reports OF the mis-
sionary establishments in a part of this disputed
territory. and which proved of especial value In de-
termnng the extent and character Of the Spanish
occupation. The large collection OF documents
from the Spanish archives presented by the Ven
ezuelan Government. well that found in the
British Blue Book led us to believe that there was
no necessity for any further examination Of such
archives.
ing returned from Holland. the material which ne
had collected the British Blue Book. the Venezuelan
been furnished by the VeneZuel n Government, were
all before us togethe; with such Information as we
from our examination and Perusal Of tie various
we'll n ha In M cyo1 l.np. a
time received advices from the Secretary Of State
Of me concgsion Of negotiations looking to an ar
The Commission since then has been preparing nm
atlas and printing the testimony 1t collected and the
Of four volumes. follows: Volume 7. containing
this report and several historical reports; Volume H.
documents from the Dutch archives, prepared by
Professor Burr together with certain miscellaneous
ment; Volume III, photographed report Volume
~. an atlas comprising seventy-fye maps,
citation Of the value Of the services OF its Secretary
Mr. Mallet-Prevost. and in concluding. says: May
consequence OF the recent treaty between the two
nations nations. specially interested, which treaty was
eminent. our own work has been terminated. the
Commission has been factor OF no inconsderable
Importance in the solution of the problem: II may
be inappropriate for to enter into any defence
Of the action of Congress in authorizing its
at that time there had been developed and was
existing little bitterness Of feeling between the
Of war abundant and the business interests Of
both nations were affected prejudiciay by the
possibilities of conflict. The appointment OF the
Commission. though IT had no absolute power of
determining the question at issue was accepted
the question in dispute. and for an ascertainment
facts respecting the coniroverted boundary The
general belief that full disclosure of the facts In
the way to some peaceful solution of the dispute
promptly allayed the apprehensions OF war. and
all waited until this Commission should have com
Not only was this apprehension Of conflict al
ayed but each nation seemed TO feel that the
invitation to the contesting nations to APP
pse @ he 'r s to- to Re R'
1t IS not strange that under the influence OF this
Of eydcnc c@' in Spain. Holland Rome. London
tain such contentious and the many yolgmes Of
which since the appointment OF the Commission
have been printed. have thrown a flood Of ligh:
Ip oD has sne made thus independeny its
OF historical and other facts. 1t would seem that
that the question is one OF such nature to jus
tify referc arbitra tribunal: that there Is
either as 10 justify a mere forci6e assertion there
and that the Gges ng rTay Gne calling O
"A wise and just view OF the case Is that the
the two nations into a consent to submit the mat
ter in dispute to an ar6itra tribunal are re not not
bitraton as a just and proper way 10 settle inter
national disputes. and we can but hope that TINS
such a happy result generally as well as In re-
spect TO this particular dispute.
20, 10 also believed that the mass Of documents,
maps and reports already referred to. which hav"
been collected. sifted and submitted to critical ex
animation bv the Commission will prove to be OF
great use TO the arbitral tribunal. materially
abridging their labors and therefore nsuring a
much more early solution and settlement OF the
questions involved than would otherwise be posi-
Bile thus removing all the more speedily and com
pletely a danger which has threa tned normal In
ternational rela lions for many years past
f>-