The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07

the coast slope from the inland water
shed at the only part OF the frontier
where the drainage ridge approaches the
coast within the distance OF ten marine |
leagues stipulated by the treaty as the
extreme width of the strip around the
heads OF Lynn canal and its branches.
While the line so traced follows the
provisional demarcation OF 1873 at the
crossing OF the Stikine river. and that OF
| 1899 at the SUBMITS OF the White and
| Chilkoot passes, IL runs much farther In
land from the Klehini than the temporary
! line OF the later nodus vivendi. and
leaves the entire mining district OF the
Porcupine river and Glacier creek within
| the jurisdiction Of the United States.
| The result is satisfactory In every way.
| II II or great material advantage 10 our
people IN the Far Northwest 1t has re-
moved from the field OF discussion and
possible danger question liable to be-
come more acutely accentuated with
each passing year. Finally, IL has furnish
| ed a signal proof OF the fairness and good
will with which two friendly nations can
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their nature
incapable of submission to a third power
| for adjudication.
The award IL self-executing on the vital
points. TO make 1t effective as regards
the others IL only remains for the two
governments TO appoint. each ON its own
behalf. one or more scientific experts.
who shall with all convenient speed, pro-
ceed together to lay down the boundary
line in accordance with the decision OF the
! majority OF the Tribunal. recommend
| that the congress make adequate provi-
sion for the appointment. compensation.
and expenses OF the members TO serve on
this joint boundary commission on the
part of the United States.
CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA.
It will be remembered that during the
second session OF the last congress Great
Britain, Germany and Italy formed an al
lance for the purpose OF blockading the
ports OF Venezuela and using such other
means OF pressure as would secure a set
tlement OF claims due. as they alleged. to
certain OF their subjects. Their employ
ment OF force for the collection OF these
claims was terminated by an agreement
brought about through the offices OF the
diplomatic Representatives OF the United
States at Caracas and the government at
| Washington, thereby ending a situation
which was bound to cause increasing
friction, and which jeoparded the peace
OF the continent. Under this agreement
Venezuela agreed TO set apart a certain
percentage OF the customs. receipts or
two of her ports TO be applied to the pay
| ment OF whatever obligations might be
ascertained by mixed commissions ap-
pointed for that purpose to be due from
her. not only to the three powers already
mentioned, whose proceedings against her
had resulted i'm state or war, but also to
the United States France, Spain. Bel
gium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Nor
way and Mexico, who had not employed
force for the collection OF the claims all
legged TO be due to certain of their citi
zens.
A demand was then made by the So
| called bockading powers that the sums
ascertained TO be due to their citizens by
such mixed commissions should be ac-
corded payment in full before anything
was paid upon the claims OF any of the
so-called peace powers. Venezuela, on the
! other hand. Insisted that all her creditors
should be paid upon n basis OF exact
equality. During the efforts to adjust this
dispute 1t was suggested by the powers I'm
interest that II should be referred TO me
for decision, but l was clearly Of the
| opinion that a far wiser course would be
to submit the question To the Permanent
Court OF Arbitration at The Hague. II
seemed 10 me to offer an admirable oppor-
tunity to advance the practice Of the
peaceful settlement of disputes between
nations and TO secure for the Hague Tri-
l bunal a memorable increase of Its practi-
cal Importance. The nations interested in
the controversy were so numerous and In
many instances so powerful as to make II
evident that benefcent results would fol-
low from their appearance at the same
time before the bar OF that august tribu-
nal OF peace.
Our hopes I'm that regard have been real
lied Russia and Austria are represented
I'm the persons of the learned and distin-
gulshcd jurists who compose the Tribunal.
while Great Britain Germany. France,
Spain, Italy, Belgium the Netherlands.
Sweden and Noto y, Mexico. the United
States. and Nene.dela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel. Such
an imposing concourse OF nations present
Ing their arguments TO and invoking the
decision OF that high court OF interna-
tional peace can hardly fail 10 secure a
:, like submissions many -future-eentro-
versles. The nations now appearing there
will find IL far easier 10 appear there a
second time, while no nation can imagine
It's just pride will be lessened by following
the example now presented. This triumph
}, OF the principle OF International arbitra-
tion Is a subject of warm congratulation
and offers a happy augury for the peace
OF the world.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
There seems good ground for the belief
that there has been real growth among
the civilized nations OF a sentiment which
will permit a gradual substitution OF 9TH
| er methods than the method of war in
the settlement of disputes. II is not pre-
tended that as yet we are near position
I'm which II Will be possibly wholly 10 pre-
vent war, or that n just regard for ma
tional interest and honor will I'm all cases
permit OF the settlement OF international
disputes by arbitration: but by a mixture
OF prudence and firmness with wisdom we
think Il is possible TO do away with much
OF the provocation and excuse for war.
and at least I'm many cases TO substitute
some other and more rational method for
the settlement OF disputes. The Hague
Court offers so good an example of what
can be done I'm the direction of such set
tlement that it should be encouraged is
every way
Further steps should be taken. In Presi-
dent McKinley's annual message of Dec.
5. 1898. ne made the following recommend
alton:
The experiences OF the last year bring
forcibly home to us a sense OF the burdens
I.,ff f1.,x "a xf Hagf IN a.,