The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-16
PLEASE PASS THE TAFFY
Venezuela Arbitrators Exhibit
the Pink of Politeness.
ARGUMENTS ARE BEGUN
Sir Richard Webster Starts the Ball Roll
ing for Great Britain-M Delcasse
Welcomes the Tribunal in
the French Language.

before II o'clock. They were received
by the minister of foreign affairs, NJ.
Delcasse, in the apartment in which
the tribunal will sit. The rooms are
the same that We're used by the Span
lsh-American peace conference. On
raised dais at the end of the room fac
ing the entrance, are five massive gilt
arm chairs for the arbitrators, with a
table in front of them. Below the dais
are half a dozen long tables placed
across the room for counsel and the
clerical staff.
The arbitrators and most of their
staffs were dressed in frock coats.
There We're less than a dozen specta-
tors in that portion of the apartment
roped off for the general public and
half dozen ladies, including Mrs.
Benjamin Harrison and others, belong
ing to the American party.
The arbitrators 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 Baron Russell of Killowen, lord
chief justice of England. and Justice
David ]. Brewer sitting at his left
hand.
Former President Benjamin Harrison
and General Benjamin r. Tracy and
the remainder of the Americans sat at
court and the other British represen-
tatives We're seated at tables on the
right side. A feature of the proceed
ings was that the counsel used the
desk which served during the Bering
sea tribunal deliberations.
The proceedings opened at 11:20 when
M. Delcasse briefly addressed the tri-
bunal in French. The foreign minister
said it gave him special pleasure to
welcome the high commission in be-
half of the French republic, which. he
added was greatly pleased at 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 distinction the high
est positions. Under the presidency of
| M DeMartens, who was universally
acknowledged as an authority on inter-
national law, he continued, their labors
could only result happily in the inter-
ests of the dispute and in the interest
of humanity, for it would constitute
another step towards the realization of
the noble project which. launched from
an illustrious throne, was making rapid
way into the hearts and consciences of
the people and had thus imposed itself
with singular force upon those who
govern them. NJ. Decasse concluded
by thanking the arbitrators for having
accepted the hospitality of France.
Professor Martens replied, thanking
the French minister for his welcome
and for the hospitality extended to
the arbitrators. The speaker recall
ed the fact that he came here seven
years ago to attend the Bering sea ar
bitration. Referring to the work be-
ing done at The Hague in the matter
of arbitration, he said the peace con-
ference sought not merely to arrange
settlement of conflicts, but the
avoidance of conflicts, and expressed
the hope that the present tribunal
would have the result of promoting the
welfare and prosperity Of the two
countries interested. The professor an
nounced the rules of the procedure
agreed upon at yesterdays conference.
Professor Martens agreed that four
| days meeting per week would be suf-
| ficient, arranging that the arbitrators
would not meet on Fridays, Saturdays
| or Sundays.
| Sir Richard Webster asked:
"As the learned Professor Martens is
| going back to The Hague tonight,
| what days does he propose to give us
| next week."
The professor replied that he hoped
to give them two days during the lat
| ter half of next week, and that he
would write from The Hague on Sun
| day, fixing the day of his arrival.
| After this Sir Richard Webster an
| nounced that counsel had arranged
that he should speak first, then two
Venezuelan counsel next Great Britain,
with possibly two counsel, then Vene-
zuela, and next Great Britain
| The final speeches were to be made by
| Venezuela. Sir Richard then opened
| the British case and spoke until 1:15
| p. M, when the commission adjourned
| for lunch. Sir Richard occupied the
remainder of the day in an explain
alton with the aid of the map on the
wall, and concluded the opening stage
of his speech shortly before o'clock
| when the tribunal adjourned, Profess
sor Martens saying that he hoped to
be able to hold the next meeting on
the coming Wednesday.
The British attorney general, Sir
Richard Webster, opened his speech by
mentioning that he had the privilege
years ago to appear in the same room
as junior counsel in the Bering sea
case. He was standing at the very
desk which served at that time. II
| was a significant fact that Venezuela
was represented by distinguished men
| of the American republic, while Amer
lea was represented on the bench by
/ two judges of the very highest position
Ii was a great honor for himself and
| his colleagues to addSess such tri
| bunal
The speaker then paid a tribute tc
Professor Martens, whose reputation
was international, and said: Il shall
probably have to say much with which
my friends disagree. but l am sure they
will extend to us the courtesy of for
bearance for which we desire to extend
to them and which is customary be
| tween counsel in these
Continuing, Sir Richard said he only
intended to touch to-day upon the gen
eral topics underlying the whole dis
| cussion and proceeded to give a brie
! geographical and historical review @
the whole question, going back to tn.
! time of Columbus. In the course o
his remarks he said he regarded tht
treaty of Munster as a most importan
matter for the tribunal as Great Brit
ain claims that Spain was not entitled
| to claim the whole of the western work