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critically examined。 But their conduct was soon exposed； and even
their principals joined in repudiating some of their fundamental
statements。 Professor Burr was sent abroad； and at The Hague was
able to draw treasures from the library and archives regarding
the old Dutch occupation and to send a mass of important material
for our deliberations。 In London also he soon showed his
qualities； and these were acknowledged even by some leading
British geographers。 The latter had at first seemed inclined to
indulge in what a German might call 〃tendency〃 geography； but the
clearness； earnestness； and honesty of our agent soon gained
their respect； and； after that； the investigators of both sides
worked harmoniously together。 While the distinguished lawyers
above named had main charge of the legal questions； President
Gilman； who had in his early life been professor of physical and
general geography at Yale； was given charge of the whole matter
of map…seeking and …making； and to me； with the others； was left
the duty of studying and reporting upon the material as brought
in。 Taking up my residence at Washington； I applied myself
earnestly to reading through masses of books； correspondence； and
other documents； and studied maps until I felt as if I had lived
in the country concerned and was personally acquainted with the
Dutch governors on the Cuyuni and the Spanish monks on the
Orinoco。 As a result lines more or less tentative were prepared
by each of us； Judge Brewer and myself agreeing very closely； and
the others not being very distant from us at any important point。
One former prime minister of Great Britain I learned； during this
investigation； to respect greatly；Lord Aberdeen； whom I well
remembered as discredited and driven from power during my stay in
Russia at the time of the Crimean War。 He was wise enough in
those days to disbelieve in war with Russia； and to desire a
solution of the Turkish problem by peace； but was overruled； and
the solution was attempted by a war most costly in blood and
treasure； which was apparently successful； but really a failure。
He was driven from his post with ignominy； and I well remembered
seeing a very successful cartoon in 〃Punch〃 at that period；
representing him； wearing coronet and mantle and fast asleep； at
the helm of the ship of state； which was rolling in the trough of
the sea and apparently about to founder。
Since that time his wisdom has； I think； been recognized； and I
am now glad to acknowledge the fact that； of all the many British
statesmen who dealt with the Venezuelan question； he was clearly
the most just。 The line he drew seemed to me the fairest
possible。 He did not attempt to grasp the mouth of the Orinoco；
nor did he meander about choice gold…fields or valuable strategic
points； seeking to include them。 The Venezuelans themselves had
shown willingness to accept his proposal； but alleged； as their
reason for not doing so； that the British government had preached
to them regarding their internal policy so offensively that
self…respect forbade them to acquiesce in any part of it。
Toward this Aberdeen line we tended more and more； and in the
sequel we heard； with very great satisfaction； that the
Arbitration Tribunal at Paris had practically adopted this line；
which we of the commission had virtually agreed upon。 It need
hardly be stated that； each side having at the beginning of the
arbitration claimed the whole vast territory between the Orinoco
and the Essequibo； neither was quite satisfied with the award。
But I believe it to be thoroughly just； and that it forms a most
striking testimony to the value of international arbitration in
such questions； as a means； not only of preserving international
peace； but of arriving at substantial justice。
Our deliberations and conclusions were； of course； kept secret。
It was of the utmost importance that nothing should get out
regarding them。 Our sessions were delayed and greatly prolonged；
partly on account of the amount of work to be done in studying
the many questions involved； and partly because we hoped that；
more and more； British opinion would tend to the submission of
the whole question to the judgment of a proper international
tribunal； and that Lord Salisbury； the prime minister； who； in
his rather cynical； 〃Saturday…Review；〃 high…Tory way； had scouted
the idea of arbitration； would at last be brought to it。 Of
course； every thinking Englishman looked with uneasiness toward
the possibility that a line might be laid down by the United
States which it would feel obliged to maintain； and which would
necessitate its supporting Venezuela； at all hazards； against
Great Britain。
The statesmanship of Mr。 Cleveland and Mr。 Olney finally
triumphed。 Most fortunately for both parties； Great Britain had
at Washington a most eminent diplomatist； whose acquaintance I
then made； but whom I afterward came to know； respect； and admire
even more during the Peace Conference at The HagueSir Julian；
afterward Lord； Pauncefote。 His wise counsels prevailed； Lord
Salisbury receded from his position； Great Britain agreed to
arbitration； and the question entered into a new stage； which was
finally ended by the award of the Arbitration Tribunal at Paris；
presided over by M。 de Martens of St。 Petersburg； and having on
its bench the chief justices of the two nations and two of the
most eminent judges of their highest courts。 It is with pride and
satisfaction that I find their award agreeing； substantially；
with the line which； after so much trouble； our own commission
had worked out。 Arbitration having been decided upon； our
commission refrained from laying down a frontier…line； but
reported a mass of material； some fourteen volumes in all； with
an atlas containing about seventy…five maps； all of which formed
a most valuable contribution to the material laid before the
Court of Arbitration at Paris。
It was a happy solution of the whole question； and it was a
triumph of American diplomacy in the cause of right and justice。
I may mention； in passing； one little matter which throws light
upon a certain disgraceful system to which I have had occasion to
refer at various other times in these memoirs； and I do so now in
the hope of keeping people thinking upon one of the most wretched
abuses in the United States。 I have said above that we were； of
course； obliged to maintain the strictest secrecy。 To have
allowed our conclusions to get out would have thwarted the whole
purpose of the investigation； but a pe