TO W. S. BISSELL[1]
I have just read the civil service part of your official report and cannot refrain from thanking you for it. In whatever detail of official policy our opinions may differ—this is unquestionably the weightiest and bravest utterance that has ever come from the Post-Office Department and cannot fail to do great good. It will be an especial pleasure to me to avail myself of an appropriate opportunity for giving public expression to these sentiments.
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION[2]
Mr. President:—As an honorary member of the Chamber of Commerce, I am thankful for the privilege of seconding the resolutions offered by the Committee.[3]
- ↑ Postmaster-General.
- ↑ Speech before the New York Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 2, 1896.
- ↑
Resolved, That the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York,
being profoundly impressed with the gravity of the situation which threatens
the peace, now and happily so long existing between Great Britain and
the United States, appeals to the common-sense and the common interests
of the people of both countries to avert the calamity of war by a resort to
arbitration or other friendly negotiation, which has so often been found to
be a sufficient and satisfactory mode of settling international disputes, and
to which both Governments stand committed by profession, precedent and
the humanitarian spirit of the age.
Resolved, That the President of the Chamber of Commerce appoint a Special Committee of fifteen members, of whom the President shall be one, to consider the expediency of an effort to be made on its part, in conjunction with similar organizations, in the interest of international peace and good understanding, toward the submission of the whole Venezuela Boundary dispute for investigation to a Joint Commission, to be composed of the members of the Commission already appointed by the President and an equal number of British subjects, and to be presided over by some man of eminent character and ability, to be agreed upon by the Governments of Great Britain and the United States; the Commission so constituted to be not a court of arbitration, but a Commission of Inquiry or Advisory Council,
