Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-01

WASHINGTON February 2S.-Ihe le-
mort Of the commission appointed by tine
President to determine the true divisional
line between Venezuela and British
Guiana. though a voluminous document
lacks the interest which might have at
tached to it. owing to the fact that the
commission did not make a report on the
boundary question. leaving that to be de-
termined by the arbiGal decided Upon be-
tween the two governments most interest
cd. Great Britain and Venezuela. Inc
report speaks Of the difficulty it encoun-
tered at the outset on account of the row
city Of the work to be undertaken pc
cause the commission had
NO PRECEDENT TO GUIDE IT,
and as its results were matters Of the
deepest Importance. Especial reference Is
made to the evident desire on the part OF
the two governments directly concerned
to aid the commission in its Investigation.
Every call for information or documents
was promptly responded to. Euogisuc
words were spoken of the individual citi-
zens of this country for profering and
furnishing books and pamphlets or other
documents in their possession which might
seem to have aided in reaching am ulii-
mate determination Of the problem they
had before them.
THE REPORT IN DETAIL
states the various documents, papers,
maps. etc, which the commission or it's
agents examined Before closing, the re-
port speaks in the highest praise of the
assistance given them by the secretary Of
the commission, Mr.. Malete Provost
In conclusion, the report says:
May we not properly advert to the fact
that while in consequence Of the recent
treaty between the two nations specially
interested, which treaty was brought
about by tho active efforts of this gov
ernment, our work has been terminated,
the commission has been a factor of no
inconsiderable Importance in tho solution
of tho problem. il may be Inappropriate
for us to enter into any defences of the
action Of Congress I'M authorzing it's
creation, and yet it may not be amiss TO
notice that AT the time there had been de-
veloped and was existing no little
BITTERNESS OF FEELING
between the people of Great Britain and
the people of the United States: talk of
war was abundant. and the business in
terests Of both nations were affected pre-
judicially by the possibilities of conflict.
The general belief that a fun disclosure Of
the facts in respect to this troublesome
question would open the way to some
peaceful solution of the dispute. promptly
4 o.
waited until this commission should have
completed its examination. Not only was
this apprehension of conflict allayed.
but each nation seemed to feel that the
creation of the commission was equivalent
to an invitation to the two coutestiuE ma
tons to appear before the bar of public
opinion and make each it's showing as to
THE MERITS or ITS CLAIM.
CAS- each has made thus independently
its examination of history and other facts.
it would seem that each has become i'm
pressed with the conviction that the qucs-
ton is one of such nature as 10 justify
reference to an arbitral tribunal: that
there is no such absolute certainty of
right on the part of either ass TO justify "a
mere forcible assertion thereof and that
the question is really one calling for judi
cial examination and determination. A
wise and just view of the case is that the
commission has been q principal factor i'm
bringing the two nations into a consent to
submit the matter I'm dispute TO an arbi-
trail tribunal.
ct is also believed that the mass Of
documents. maps ana reports already re-
e. D..