The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-16
THE ARBITRATION OPENS.
BOUNDARY DEvUnE 4
DlsTIN0UIsmED TRIBUNAL.


Seseate1 ~ legal Authorities.
PARIS. June K-The first forma! meet
Ing Of the veEe1uelz arbitration commits
sion opened this morning. The arbisra-
tors council and othsrs. began assem-
bling IT the foreign office shortly before
II O'Clock They were received by the
minister Of foreign Affairs. n Delcasse.
in the apartment in which the tribunal
viii Sit
The rooms are the same that were used
by the Scandinavian peace confer
enee- On a raised dass At the end OF the
room, facing the entrance. are Ave mas
sire eiit arm chairs for the arbitrators.
with table in front Of them Below the
dais are half dozen long tables placed
across the room for counsel and the cleri-
cal staf. A large coiored map Of the
disputed territory hangs on the wall to
the right Of tie ARBITRATOR with a small
er map OF the whole OF South America
beside Il. Altogether there were about
forty persons connected with the tribunal
pses<nt. The arbttratofs and most Of
their stats were dressed In frock coats
There were less than a dozen spectators
In that portion of the apartment roped
OF for the general public and half dox-
son and others belonging TO the American
party.
The arblfrafors took their seats soon
after II O'Clock. Chief Justice Melville w.
Fuller and Richard Penn Collins. lord
justice Of appeals. sitting on the right
Of Prof. DE Martens. the umpire. and Ba-
ron Russell. OF kiliowen, lord chief Justice
OF England. and David J. Brewer sitting
1t his left hand.
Former President BENJAMIN Harrison
and Gen. Benjamin r. Tracy and the re-
mainder Of the Americans sat Il the Ia
bles 1t tho left side. facing the court.
and the other British representatives
were seated at tables at the right side.
a feature OF the proceedings was that
counsei used the desk which served dur
ing the Bering sea tribunal deliberations
n. Deleasse Welcsaes Them.
Tho proceedings opened At 1l:20. when
~. Deicasse briefly addressed the tribunal
In French. The foreign minister said il
gave him special pleasure to welcome the
high commission In behalf of the French
republic. which, he adu.u, was greatly
pleased ut the fact that Paris had been
chosen for the sitting OF the tribunal
among whom he saw such eminent men.
some Of whom had occupied with dis
tinction the htHhest positions. Under the
presidency OF n De Martens. who Is uni
international law. ne continued, the iabors
could only result happily In the interests
Of the disputants and in the interest OF
n hum for i would constitute another
project which. launched from an illustri-
Gus throne. was making rapid way into
the heart. and consciences Of the people
and had thus imposed itself with singular
force upon those who govern them. NJ
pelcasse concluded with thanking the ar
niffators for having accepted the hospital
ity OF France
Reply ny Prof. De Martens.
Pref De Martens replied. thanking the
and ar fs sns fs ID: w e me
ARBITRATOR ;sss s. TIE :pssasr recalled the tact
sssS .ns sess :s .ess S.a son. Tn.
Hague In the matter sf arbitration. he
said the peace conference sought not mere
" 70 arrange settlement Of conflicts. but
the hope that the present tribunal would
have the result OF promoting the welfare
and prosperity OF the two countries inter-
Of procedure agfsed upon at yesterday's
conference. and said the arbitrators would
meet every asx except Sunday.
said that In order to meet the views OF
former President Harrison and the other
American counsel. in which the English
representatives concurred. he proposed that
they only meet four. daye In the week. IN
them
Gen. Harrisen's Little Joke.
Mr.. Harrison said he thought there would
Be In four days work enough for ordi-
nary men. and ne evoked a general smile
mos, eminent jari.,s 4" Of Great Britain and md
America he added: And we are all or
binary men The work before them. he
added. would be tremendous strain upon
Prof De Martens thereupon agreed ,ha,
four days meeting per week would be
sun !,s at, nrrsnxinx r,ss the ars,.rasors
Cir Richard Webster a.sea: AS the
harmed Prof De Martens - going hack TO
The professor replied that he hoped 10
give them two days during the latter half
from The Hague on Sunday. fixing the
day of his arrival
order Of speakiag.
After this Sir Richard Webster announc-
ed that COUNSEL had arranged ne should
speak hrss. then tho two Venezuelan coun-
sci next Great Britain. with possibly two
counsel. then Venezuela and next Great
Britain. The final speeches were TO be
made by Venezuela
SIR Richard W~bst~p Opens.
Sir Richard then opened the British case
and spoke until t:ls 3. m. when tie com
mission adjourned for luncheon. STR Rich
ard occupied the remainder OF the SAY Ia
an explanation, with the aid OF The map.
OF the geographical difficulties Of the dis
pate. and concluded the opening stage Of
HE speech shortly before o'clock, when
the tribunal adjourned, Frof. DE Martens
saying be hoped 20 Be abb to hold the
next meeting on the coming Wednesday.
The British attorney general. Sir Rich
ard Webster. opened his speech by men,
| stoninK that he had the privilege years ago
| 10 appear Ia the same room A. junior cous-
| sci In The Rertnx SEA case. He WAS stand
tins al the very desk which served al that
| time. Il wes stgnifcsn: fact that Venez-
uela was represented Nv listing uish ed men
| 81 the American republic, While America
! vas represented on the bench by two
| Judges II The sery highest position IL Was
s~~as honor for himself ard his c0ileag Ne
! 20 address ~sich 4 tribunal
The speaker then paid tribute 10 Prof.
Martens, whose reputation was irtssrna.
tiorsl. Ani said
/ Il shall probably have 10 say much with
which uay friends Disagree. bat l am surs
I trey viii extend - us the courtesy OF fer
I Aearsnce which we desire - extend q
tasm. ssd which is customary between
counsel IN these cases