Evening star., 1899-04-05
AFFAIRS IN ENGLAND
Venezuelan Boundary Question is At
tracing Attention.
LORD HERSCHELL'S FUNERAL
French Scheme for the Invasion of
the British Isles.
GOOD DEAL OF A BLUFF

speciaI Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON, March %, 1899.
Tel,grams from America state that the
appointment of Lord Russell of killowen
as one of the arbitrators in the Venezuelan
boundary question has been well received
1t could hardly be otherwise. In appointing
the lord chief justice of England to this
pest Great Britain is affording Americans
another example of her respect for them,
and a compliment is intended Like the
late Lord Herschell, whose place Lord Rus-
sell takes, he occupies most important
position and is one of the busiest men In
the kingdom. He can i'll be spared from
the courts. but since Great Britain became
awakened to thu seriousness of this ques-
ton, she determined that not only would
she send her best men to represent her,
but she would do her utmost to conciliate
the United States in this respect. Some
conception of the difficulties which face
the tribunal to be opened in Paris on the
18th of next May may be had when 1t is
borne in mind that the argument extends
as far back the close of the fifteenth
century. Among those documents, and
there are many, which play an important
part in the question of delimlt1ng the
frontier, special mention may be made of
the treaty of Munster of 16iS, and the
treaty of Utrecht, which in principle rati-
fes 1t.
The American case has been rehearsed
many times during the past two years,
and at this time it is important to know on
what British claims rest The argument
for the British case, in brief, is that long
prior to the treaty of Munster the Dutch
had already founded colonies in the terri
tory of British Guina. and that these were
particularly numerous on the seaboard,
whereas prior to 1913 there was but one
Spanish settlement, the post known as San
ThOmP de Guavana and that during the
period covered Oy the years 1913 to 1I.H,
from the River Corintin to Barima the
whole seaboard was in the hands of the
Dutch. Now, until the year 1723, with the
exception of San Thome de la Guayana,
thers was no Spanish colony in the terri
tory under dispute.
Activity of the Dutch.
This colony. however. twice receded up
the Orinoco so to ultimately find itself
removed some fifty miles from its original
site. In the meantime the Dutch had been
active, and had explored most of the
higher regions of the principal rivers and
had established settlements in the sur
rounding country They had also estab-
hShed posts up the Cuyani river In 1876,
when Great Britain entered into possession
of the Dutch colony, the Spaniaris had
extended eastward only as far the viii
lage of TImereunO, founded about 1ISS, and,
with the exception of San Thome de la
Guayana and certain Capuchin missions
they possessed no posts encroaching on the
disputed territory. From the time that the
British entered into occupation they claim
ed all the rights and exercised the full pow
ers that the Dutch had previously enjoyed,
and which are usually considered as con-
frmatory to territorial ownership. Neither
did the Spanish nor Venezuelan govern
ment at any subsequent time enter into
possession of this disputed territory.
From the foregoing brief statement of
British claims il will be seen that the chief
+L,at ,%OI,
were In possession and control of the dis
puted area For on their title being proved
good the territorial rights of Britain rest.
The court may consider itself fortunate in
having as principal arbitrator NJ. de Mar
tens, the eminent Russian jurist and the au-
thor of ''Traite du Droit Internationale" a
book familiar to all students of internation-
al law
An Able Board.
He not only speaks and writes English flu
emily, but he also possesses those rare gifts
the power of assimilating and classifying
points and the careful weighing of evidence.
Lord Justice Hem Collins, the other En-
glish arbitrator is known for a careful
Judge. The two American arbitrators. Chief
Justice Fuller and Mr.. Justice David Brew
er, are highly respected in this country. 1t is
to be hoped that with board Of arbitration
so constituted, comprising. as it does, the
legal talent of the three countries. this
much vexed question will be brought 10 a
speedy and satisfactory conclusion.
Apropcs of Venezuela, Ambassador
Choate's rather broad allusion in his speech
at the chamber of commerce dinner to Pres
ident Cleveland's message as twisting the
lions tair' was not relshed here any more
than in America. Englishmen smiled polite
ly and passed the remark by. The next day
one or two of the London newspapers, in
commenting on the speech. quietly said that
If the ambassador had received. as he said,
instructions from President Mckinley not
to talk politics they feared that he was
slightly exceeding his Instructions NO
further notice was taken of the slip.
Lord HerscheIrs Funeral.
Since the DAYS of St. Cuthbert, perhaps,
the coffined remains of very few men have
undergone such wanderings as those of
Lord Herschen. After being carried from
place to place in the United States, they
were deposited on board a British warship,
conveyed across the Atlantic. received with
honor at England's chief naval station and
ultimately removed to the deceaseds mouse
in London. But when the wanderingS were
renewed yesterday morning the scene pre-
sented was of a still more remarkable char
acter. There had to be a halt at the Ma
tional Walhalla-where memorial service
was arranged-and long before the time dp-
pointed the magnificent abbey was throng-
ed with visitors, including many of the
best and brightest intellects that the ma
tion can produce. No sooner was the body
removed from the hearse in Deans Yard
than 1t was met by the clergy and choris-
ters and conducted through the clOisters
to the sacred edifice. Proceeding along the
south aisle, the procession turned at the
stately west porch and continued its course
down the nave to a bier that stood beneath
the lantern. Here the coffin was once more
rested, in full view of the assembled con
gregation. Artisticaliy blended at the head
were the flags of England and America
thus symbOlizing by their contact the re.
gard of kindred peoples far apart. Over
the foot lay the scarlet and ermine robes
which the ex-lord chancellor had worr
with much distinction. If the flora
wreaths were not numerous they were very
signifcant-that borne by Lord Churchill
expressing the sincere regret of tn,
queen. The Prince of Wales was represent
ed by Sir Francis Knollys; the Duke ot
York, by the Hon. Derek Keppel, while
surrounding this trio were some of the
most prominent figures in both branches
of the Legislature. notable personages from
several foreign embassies and not a few
men of light and leading in art science
and literature. Mr.. Choate acted as pail
bearer
Impressive Music.
So far as the memorial service was con
cerned nothing could have been more beau
tiful or impressive. Rays of sunlight
served to dispel the shadows for time b,I