ritish Minister
and the Minister from Venezuela to their respective governments for
approval.

Both countries were satisfied with the treaty, and on the 14th of June,
Sir Julian Pauncefote, representing England, and Senor Jose Andrade, for
Venezuela, met and exchanged the notes of approval from their
governments.

There will be five members of the Arbitration Committee--Baron Herschel
and Sir Richard Collins for England, and Chief-Justice Fuller and
Justice Brewer for Venezuela.

As in the case of the proposed Arbitration with England, the King of
Sweden may nominate the odd man on the Committee. The two sides are to
try and agree on a fifth person to act with them, and if they fail to
agree the King of Sweden is to have the right to name him.

The Arbitrators are to meet in Paris, and must render a decision within
three months after both sides have stated their case.

* * * * *

Several weeks ago we told you about Ellis Island, and the way immigrants
were received and handled there.

You will be sorry to learn that the whole of the government buildings on
Ellis Island have been destroyed by fire.

No one knows how the accident happened, but just after midnight a
watchman noticed smoke coming out of one of the rooms, and gave the
alarm of fire.

There were more than a hundred immigrants on the island, as well as a
large force of people to care for them. In addition to these people,
there were some fifty patients in the hospital. In all, there were two
hundred and thirteen people in the buildings when the fire started, but
the discipline was so perfect, and the employees of the Island were so
well trained, that not a single person was injured.

The patients from the hospital were removed from the wards in quick
time, taken on boats belonging to the Island, and brought to the Battery
without delay. The rest of the people were put in the tugs and the
various kinds of river craft that hurried down the Bay the moment the
fire was discovered.

Some anxiety was felt lest the papers and records of the Immigration
Bureau had been destroyed in the fire, but it was found that most of
them were in safes and had escaped injury.

New buildings will be put up as soon as possible; the work on them will
be begun without delay. This time, however, they will be built of brick
or stone, and not of wood.

* * * * *

Many of our friends have asked us whether Rob