The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-04

the former good understanding bstwssn
the contsnding parties. He then eloquent
ly thanked his colleagues and the respec-
tive counsel, tendering on behalf Of the
tribunal special thanks for the hospitality
Inenis be repeated In French.
Mr. Benjamin Harrison. the principal
counsel far Venszsula. then mAds few
remarks and was followed ny Sir Richard
Webster, principal counsel for Great BIZ
tain who thanked the French government
for its hospitality aud said that England
and Venezuela would work side BY side
in harmony.
The sitting Yves then adjourned.
When asked his opinion regarding the
award Sir Richard Webster said be was
snti ,iied. Mr.. Harrison, replying to the
same query. said "it might be woIss."
Subsequently Mr.. Harrison and M.
Msllst- Provost, who were interviewed
jointly, pointed out that Great Britain
up to the time Of the intervention OF the
United States, distinct ly refused to arbi-
t ate any portion of the territory east Of
tie SchomburRk line, alleging that its
title was unassailnble. This territory in
cluded the Attaouri river AMI Point
Barima, which Is Of the greatest value
strategically and cor mercially.
"The award" continued the counsel
for veaeguels, "gives Point Earina, with
strip OF land fifty miles long to Vene.
2 ELLA which thereby Obtains entire con-
troll Of the river Orinooo. Three thous-
and square miles In the interior are also
awarded to Velszre!a Thus by u decis-
ion In which thes'ritish arbltrators con-
CURED the posi- s5n taken up by Great
Britain in 1895 is shown to be unfoundeo.
"Ihis, Eoxever, in no wise EXPIRE sIss
the full extent Of Venezuela's victory.
Great britain had claimed 30, coo square
miles of territory wet Of h, Schomb1rsk
line and this she was disposed to arrl-
trate In 1880. Every foot OF that sestion
Is now awareei to Ventzlela."
The president OF the tribunal in his
closing adde's today, the Venezuelan
counsel remarked, had commented upon
the unanitnity of the present Judgment
and had referred to It as proof of the
success of the arbitration, but In the opln-
ion OF tue counsel L. did not requITe
n.uch intelligence to penetrate behind
this superficial statement and t. see that
the line drawn Is line sof compromise
and not a line of right. II tn British
contention we're right the line should
have been drawn further west; II it were
wrong the line should be drawn much
further east There was nothing In the
history of the controversy nor In the lei gal
principles involved, counsel oontendei,
which could adequately explain why the
lire should be drawn where 1t had been.
The counsel for Venezuela went on to
say that so long as arbitration was con-
Quoted on such principles, it could not be
regarded as a success, at least by those
who believe that al bitration should result
in tie admission of legal right and not
IN compromises really diplomatic IN char
soter.
Venezuela had gained much but wa
entitled to m ch more and In the judg-
ment of the joint counsel for veaezuela,.
If the arbitrators we're unanimous, 1T
must be becApte their failure to sgrte
would have confirmed Great Britain in
the possession OF even mere territory.
One Of tie counsel for Great Britain
made the following statement to tbs AS
sooiated Pres:
"Tte award practically endorses tho
Judgment of Sir Robert Schomburgk,
whose line 1t follows except In few
particulars. Great Britain acquires the
whole of the river Cuyuni, including
site nhlcn Venezuela alleged to be fort
at the junction Of tho Curumu ard
Cuyuni. The marshy Barima district
has been awarded to Venezuela possibly
on the principle Of national security, but
with the condition that the Orinoco shall
be a free water way to all nations. This
piece OF land covers about thirty square
miles. 1t had been offered with much
more land by every British foreign minis
ter since the time of Lord Aberdeen.
"Great Britain has substaptiatei al
most all her extreme claims. All tie
valuable plantations AMI gold fields are
now indisputably settled within British
territory"
hi. De Martens was then interviewed by
| the Associated Press. Tie president Of
the tribunal iereatsd what he had said In
his address to the court, adding;
"I am of opinion that this tribunal of
arbitration is of exceptional Importance.
inasmuoh as it is the first tribunal after
the peace confer ence ut The Hague. IL
is also important because 1t Is the first
tribunal of he kind in which certain
rules OF procedure have been laid down
and communicated to counsel as obliga-
tory, rules which have been adhered to
throughout. These rules are the same as
were proposed by the Russian goyernn en5
for the conference at The Hague and APP
proved there in July. As they had been
laid down by the arbitration tribunal In
January they were applied long before
the convention at The Hague took them
into consideration.
"Another point of great Importance is
that ever since 1878 all awards had been
decided by majority; but this is the
| first ocnasion where the decision was