The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-19
BARON COURCEL is THE MAN
WHO WILL PROBABLY BE CHOSEN
AS FIFTH ARBITRATOR
In Settling the Boundary Quarrel
Between Venezuela and
Great Britain.

WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The name
of Baron Col1rcel. the eminent French
jurist and diplomat, at present French
ambassador to Great Britain, propaoly
will be suggested as the fifth or maj
arbitrator in the Court OF Arplli a'ioi'
between Great Britain and VeheZuei''
The treaty of arbitration recently rat,
fed by these two Governments proEiu
ed that the fifth arbitrator Shall NC
chosen by the four designated " iep
resent the two countries, anu III the
event of their inability to agree Oh
fifth. then King Oscar of Norway anu
Sweden is to name the final arbitrator.
There appears to be little doubt, now
ever, that the four arbltratofS WIN
reach an agreement, and with this enc
in view. semi official inquiries nave
been made as to the availability OF Ba-
ron Courcel His choice would aoo
another notable name to court WHICH
promises to be noted for the personnel
of it's members, who thus far are Chiel
Justice Fuller and Justice Brewer, III
behalf of Venezuela, and Baron Her
schel and Sir Richard Penn ColllnS, III
behalf of Great Britain. Ihe court
will meet in Paris in the summer oI
1893. the preceding time being required
for the exchange of pleadings- In the
meantime. and within three months OF
the exchange of ratifications, the hnal
arbitrator must be chosen. AS the
treaty is ratified by both Governments,
the formal exchange of notifications
will follow at an early date either in
Washington or London, and negotia-
a.
tor will Immediately follow, in order
that an agreement may be reached
within the three months prescribed
Up to the time of his sudden death
few days ago, James w. StorroW, chie1
counsel for Venezuela, had made care
full inquiry as to the availability or Ba-
ron Courcel as the fifth arbitrator the
abilities of the French diplomat were
regarded as eminently fitting him for
the place 1t was felt, however that as
France had a boundary dispute with
Brazil involving the same points as
the Venezuela-British case, Baron
Courcel might have fixed convictions
concerning the issue involved. Mr..
Storrow conferred with the French
Embassy in Washington, and the gen.
eral conclusion reached was that Baron
Courcel could have no prejudice by rea-
son of the Franco Brazilian boundary
contest, which also had been submitted
to arbitration by treaty just signed
The inquiries left little doubt that
the French diplomat would be suggest
ed as the fifth arbitrator.
Baron Courcel is one of the foremost
jurists of Europe, and as such was
chosen President of the Court of Arbi-
tration between the United States and
Great Britain on the Behring Sea ques
ton. He came from one of the old roy
alist families of the empire, but is
sturdy Republican, and has taken front
rank among French leaders. 1t was
during the strained condition of Euro
pean affairs a year ago, requiring skill
full diplomacy, that France awaited her
self of his services as ambassador to
Great Britain. He speaks English flu
emily, which would materially aid in a
court made up entirely of English
speaking arbitratOrs.