DEPARTMENT 010 STATE, :Fashington, D.C. , January 4, 16t13. a. m. The members of the Commission to investigate and report upon the true location of the divisional line betz,ven the territory of the 1,epubilc of Venezuela and that of British Gulapa mot in the diplomatic re- ception room of the Department of State. Present: Honorable David J. Brewer, Honorable Richard II. Alvey,, lionorab.le Preaerie R. Coudert and Honorable Daniel (7. Gilman. Ponorable David J. Brewer was elected President of the Cmlission. The President of the earir7ission administered the oath of office to the mexbers of the Com=ission present and the Honorable Richard H. Alvey administered the oath to the President of the Co=ission (Honorable David J. Brewer.) The oath was as follows: • do solemnly swear that I will sk r,ort ana ai.jend the Constitution of the United Stat,,ss aguinat all enemies, foreign and domf:stic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; that I will well and faithfully discharge the dvtius of the office of “ember of the Comission appointed to Investigate and report upon the true location of the divisional line between the territory of the Republic of Venozuela and that of Hritish Guiana: So help me God! Commissioner Alvey moved that the President of the Commission be authorized to designate a clerk for thepres*,nt session, whereupon th‘.7 Preident disignatod Krait,dr Blandford (pr(vate secretary to the Secretary of State) to act in that capacity. Upon motion of Commissionr uouaert the matter of securing quo:. tars for the Comillssion .&.7as left with the Pr dent of the Commission and Commissioner Alvey. Commissionc;r Gilman auved that an inquiry oe 4ade as to the best map showing the physical characteristics of the country in quascion and Atither it could be reproduced in a convenient form for the use of the Com- mission. Commissionar Alvey seconded this motion xhich vas adopted. The Co=ission th,vreupon authorized Camiseimir Oilman to make such inquiry. The Chairman was authorized to ask the Secretary of State for $uch information and data as might be of use to the Comaission. Up47: mo ion of Commissioner Couttert the macting was adjourned to meet on Saturday next, the eleventh instant at 10:30 a.m. in the diplomatic reception room of the Departmt.nt of State, unless the Chairman ddsig- natcd another day. 1 to PAPERS TO BE PREPARED. First, The Report of the Conission, as indicated on other pages. Second, Such papers as the several members of the Comnis,:lion nay see fit to prepare. Third, Paper on the true construction of Article Fifth of the Treat:r of Munster. Fourth, Report upon maps in general, and upon the various line of division -therein given; said linos being regarded and treated as so many expressions of opinion upon the boundary question by expert geographers. This report should include a critical exarAntion of the various lines, and a discussion of their merits, demerits and significance. Fifth, Report upon special IDA.ps Tvhih have been prepared 1 7)y or under the direction of any interested Governments or of the Dutch West India Company; or Tzhich, having, been prepared by other, have been made the subject of diplomatic nepotiation or of official ment by any of the_nations directly interested in the controversy. Sixth, An historical paper collating all the evidences in re- spect to occupation of the Orinoco from Angostura to tT:7e to 1648. Seventh, A like parer in refererce to the settlements on t7L,e Essequibo River. Eighth, A paper treatinp:of the evifaences :of the existence of a natural division between the valleys of the Orinoco an1.'67 Essequibo, north of the Iraataka Range, and s772o-rrin.7 substantiaily where that line of division exists. Ninth, An historical paper showing the time, duration, and extent of the Spanish missions southeast of the Piokoa Range and. between that and the groat bend of the Cuyuni. Tenth, An historical paper treating all the evidences of the Dutch settlement, trading and territorial claims on the shore west of the Morocco, after 1648. Eleventh, A like -paper as to the evidences of Dutch settlements in the valleys of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni, after1648.. Twelfth, A paper collating all the evidences since 1648 of a recognition by either nation of the territorial claims Of the other. Thirteenth, A review of the diplomatic correspondence, shoring the admissions and claims made therein. Fourteenth, If not included_ in ar papers presen-tea several members of the Corrlission, a paper reviavrinu- and arguments presented by the British Goverment in the se,reral volumes of the Blue Book. Fifteenth, A like review of the arguments and facts T):1:1,t1 by the Venezuelan Government. Memorandum made immediately after an interview with the Postmaster-General COPY January 1, 146, 9 p.m. Hon. W. L. Wilson called. W. We have not heard from you on Venezuela. G. 7,To, I have said nothing. One of the papers telegraphed for my views and I said "too important to speak offhand." W. Well then I may as well open the subject on which I have cople. The President wishes you to be one of the com- mission and that is why I am following you up (alluding to his previous call and telegrams). G. I regard it as a very great distinction. I will not A say that I proposed .Tou to him, but I have been from the be- ginning desirous to have you appointed and he has been also. If he and you and others who are capable of judging think that I could be of service, I do not know any reason why I should not accept. W. we certainly do,- and as you listen favorably, I may as well tell you at once who are likely to be on the commis- sion- Judge Brewer, Judge Alvey, Hr. Coudert, A.D.White, and you. (We then taLced over these names and the qualifications of each person named.) G. Is it likely to take a good deal of time? Ny.As much as may be wanted. You notice that the President is slow in naming the Commission. This is so purposely. G. will it require a visit to Venezuela? W. Probably not. G. To Spain or the Hague? W. Perhaps sorr.n one may go there, but I suppose all the data, maps, papers,etc. will be in Washington. G. Will the Commission work there? W. Probably. G. Will, the State Department prepare the case? W. I suppose so. In conclusion, Mr. Wilson said 'Shall I telegraph from the station your L=.nswel" () injunction of secrecy was laid upon me, but of course the talk was confidential. We exchanged some words abolkt Mr. Olney, Mr. Gresham, Mr. Lodge, the President,etc. He spoke anti-Jingo and said nobody expected war with England. A "Board of Conciltqtion" might be the best way out of the difficulty as proposed in the Westminster Gazette. q. I asked if we had au J the British claims in Lord Sal- isbury's "second" to Mr.Olney. W. He thought so. G. Where is the correspondence carried on, through Sir J. Pauncefote or Mr. Bayard? W. The latter. Incidentally he said, laughing, that Miss Pauncefote was receiving a little while ago with Mrs.Olney. I called at once on Mr. Stewart who was not at home. Then on Mr. McLane, asking if I should ae'!ept. Certainly, he replied, it is an appointment of the first rank. The newspapers next morning announced the commission. tice. Both nations arc resolved to sub- f. THE VENEZUELA SETTLEMENT. mit whatever differences may henceforth arise between them to peaceful The end of the Venezuela dispute is at arbitration. The much-debated Monroe last in view. Lord Salisbury's speech at Doctrine, moreover, expanded to cover the the Guildhall banquet makes that ' clear. the requirements of vastly expanded From time to time, in months past, there National interests, is substantially acknow- have been rumors of approaching settle- ledged as a vital factor in all reckonings ment, which have been generally credited of American affairs ; for after this vindi- for both intrinsic and extrensic reasons. cation of its essential principle, it is not These are now authoritatively confirmed. likely again to be challenged. The one serious difficulty says the British The boundary dispute, then, is to be Prime Minister, has been to determine submitted to arbitration, by a tiibunal satis- what disposition shall be made of. bona factory to the United States; two members fide settlers in the disputed territory. That being chosen by this Government, two by difficulty has been Solved by a sug,gstion of the American Government, and "this Great Britain an 1 - has brought the controversy to an end.'' tni•firth blr those four. That-is the main point: The detail There remains nothing to do but to submit under it whicit. has given most troubli'3 mderly arbitration, to is the the case to and treatment of actual colonists. accept good as That is to in faith and a finality the be adjusted sensibly, by verdict of the court. Lord Salisbury's application of the common law, British statement was greeted with loud cheers colonies which have been settled without from distinguished gathering dispute the at the for a term of fifty years wid Guildhall. It is no stretch either of fancy have their title to the land confirmed. So, doubtless, or of truth to say those cheersare .cordially individual settlers, after a certain period of repeated throughout the United States.