PREFACE. The summer of 1903 saw collected at Caracas ten full commissions appointed to adjudicate claims of as many nations against Venezuela, and also the commissioners of an eleventh (French) commission. Before these various bodies were presented for consideration many most interesting questions of international law, touching perhaps all of the problems likely to prove sources of difficulty between European and North American nations on the one hand and the South American Republics on the other. As a matter of public importance, it was determined to collect a permanent memorial of the work at Caracas in the shape of the present volume, the Senate ordering its printing. It has been the aim of the editor to include herein all opinions, save those turning on questions of facts exclusively, and it is believed this end has been attained, the paucity of opinions from certain commissions before which many cases were presented being accounted for by the fact that some commissioners or umpires wrote none or practically none. The tables of awards were furnished by the Venezuelan foreign office, and certain opinions presented by the Venezuelan Commissioners in the American and English Commissions are printed as filed at Caracas. For courtesies extended in the preparation of this work, the writer acknowledges with pleasure his personal indebtedness to Secretary Hay, Solicitor W. L. Penfield, and Mr. Andrew H. Allen, chief of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, and many other officials of the Department of State; to Sr. Gustavo J. Sanabria, secretary of foreign relations for Venezuela; Minister H. W. Bowen and former Chargé d'Affaires W. W. Russell, American representatives at Caracas. For translations from the Italian he is greatly obligated to Mr. William Giusta, of Washington, D. C. The writer is also indebted to Mr. W. T. Sherman Doyle, formerly assistant agent of the United States, American-Venezuelan Commission, and Netherlands agent of the Netherlands-Venezuelan Commission, for translations from the Spanish, and constant and most valuable assistance in the editorial work. Mr. Rudolf Dolge, secretary of the American Commission; Mr. Ward Fitzsimmons, secretary of Mr. Bainbridge, Commissioner of the American Commission, and Mr. J. Earl Parker, secretary of Mr. Plumley, umpire of the English and Netherlands Commissions, kindly furnished many copies of opinions and much needed additional information. JACKSON H. RALSTON. WASHINGTON, D. C., October 31, 1904. Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission) American Electric and Manufacturing Company case (damages to Bainbridge, American Commissioner. Paúl, Venezuelan Commissioner.. Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission) Paúl, Venezuelan Commissioner (concurring).. Orinoco Steamship Company case— Bainbridge, American Commissioner Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission)... ... ... .... ..... Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission). Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission)... Paúl, Venezuelan Commissioner (for Commission).... Bainbridge, American Commissioner (for Commission) Paúl, Venezuelan Commissioner (for Commission)............ |