318 VENEZUELA AND AFTER 



result of the disturbance caused by the presi 

 dential message of December 17, it impressively 

 confirmed and justified the unwavering conten 

 tion of Mr. Cleveland that that document was 

 in purpose and effect a powerful factor in the 

 maintenance of peace. 



On January n, 1897, three weeks before the 

 conclusion of the treaty that sent the Venezue 

 lan boundary to arbitration, Secretary Olney 

 and Sir Julian Pauncefote signed at Washing 

 ton a general treaty of arbitration. It embodied 

 the closely reasoned conclusions of strong and 

 sincere minds as to the best practical methods 

 of solving the intricate problems presented by 

 the end in view. All differences between the 

 two governments that diplomacy should prove 

 unable to adjust were to be sent to arbiters. 

 Three kinds of tribunals were provided, among 

 which the jurisdiction over the various classes 

 of controversies was distributed, with provi 

 sions for appellate and revisory procedure. The 

 tribunal whose function it was to deal with the 

 delicate questions of territorial claims and of 

 principles affecting &quot;national rights&quot; was to 

 consist of three judges from the higher courts 

 of each government, with no umpire, decisions 

 to be valid only by a vote of at least five to one. 



