Mr. Olney to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, June 12, 1896.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from you of a copy of Lord Salisbury’s dispatch to you of the 18th ultimo, relating to a proposed general treaty of arbitration between the United States and Great Britain. The contents have received the careful consideration of this Government, and I shall take the earliest practicable opportunity to submit some observations upon the propositions the dispatch sets forth and discusses.
Meanwhile, however, I deem it advisable to recall attention to the fact that, so far as the Venezuelan boundary dispute is concerned, the position of this Government has been plainly defined, not only by the Executive, but by the unanimous concurring action of both branches of Congress. A genuine arbitration issuing in an award and finally disposing of the controversy, whether under a special or a general treaty of arbitration, would be entirely consistent with that position and will be cordially welcomed by this Government. On the other hand, while a treaty of general arbitration providing for a tentative decision merely upon territorial claims, though not all that this Government deems desirable or feasible, might, nevertheless, be accepted by it as a step in the right direction, it would not, under the circumstances, feel at liberty to include the Venezuelan boundary dispute within the scope of such a treaty. It is deemed advisable to be thus explicit in the interest of both Governments that the pending negotiations for a general treaty of arbitration may proceed without any misapprehension.
I have to request that you will communicate the contents of this dispatch to Lord Salisbury, furnishing him, should he so desire, with a copy, which is herewith inclosed for that purpose.
I have, etc.,