The record-union., 1899-06-16

The British Attorney General opened
his speech by mentioning that he had
the privilege, years ago, to appear in
the same room as junior counsel in the
Behring Sea case. He was standing at
the very desk which served at that
time. 1t was significant fact that
Venezuela was represented by distin-
guished men of the American republic,
while America was represented on the
bench by two judges of the very high
est position. 1t was a great honor, he
said, for himself and his colleagues to
address such a tribunal
The speaker then paid a tribute TO
Professor Martens, whose reputation
was international, and said: 81 shall
probably have to say much with which
my friends disagree, but / am sure they
will extend to us the courtesy of for
bearance which we desire to extend
to them, and which is customary be-
tween counsel in these cases"
Continuing, Sir Richard said he only
intended to touch to-day upon the
general topics underlying the whole dis
cussion, and proceeded to give a brief
geographical and historical review of
the whole question, going back to the
time of Columbus. In the course of his
remarks, he said he regarded the treaty
of Munster as most important mat
ter for the tribunal, as Great Britain
claims Spain was not entitled to claim
the whole of the Western world in view
of the fact that she was established in
the position of the Dutch.
He presumed American counsel +coll
an. utterly different view of the con-
struction of both the Munster and ct
recht treaties, and thought the argu-
ments advanced by American counsel
were not characterized by that breadth
which might be expected from such
eminent counsel.
The representative of Great Britain
then took up the terms of the treaty of
arbitration, and laid great stress upon
the contention that there is a contract
between Venezuela and Great Britain.
and not between the Spaniards and the
Dutch. The tribunal he contended had
to decide the boundary between Vena-
zuela and British Guiana at the pres
ent time, and not between the Span
iards and Dutch in 1S14
Counsel then said that in order To
clear up any Misunderstanding, he an
nounced that Great Britain recognized
Venezuela as the successor of Spain
and he submitted that the boundary, as
it might have been settled in 1914,
was not the same as ought to be de-
fined to-day.
Respecting the fifty years title clause.
Great Britain submitted that it ought
to come back from the date of the con-
clusion of the treaty of arbitration.
Counsel was averse to holding that
whatever might be the paramount title
of the other Power, as this would cut
both ways. Where such case was
proved. the matter could be settled in
one Of three ways-by detecting the
boundary line with territorial compen.
Sation elsewhere, without territorial
equivalent, or by the payment of COM
pensation, adding that the tribunal has
absolute discretion in the matter
Sir Richard Webster spoke in clear
voice and the arbitrators and counsel
followed his speech closely, making
notes and occasionally asking him to
clear up a doubtful point
Sir Richard occupied the remainder
of the day in an explanation with the
aid of the map on the wall, of the
geographical differences of the dispute
and concluded the opening stage of his
speech shortly before 4 O'Clock, when
the tribuanl adjourned, Professor Mar
tens saying he hoped to be able to hold
the next meeting on the coming We'd
nesday -
The members of the tribunal We're
nhotopranhed this afternoon errOuped
on the steps of the, Foreign Office.
The officials Of the Foreign Office pro-
vided the Commissioners and their
staffs with substantial luncheon in
hall adjoining the courtroom.