New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-18
TWISTING THE LIONS TAIL"
HOW THE BRITISH PRESS REGARD THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
vENuINE REGRET EXPRESSED ny THE cHRoN-
1cI.E"-.rHE PRESIDENT PROVES TOO
MUCH: PUTS THE REPUBLICANS
IN A HOLE" SAYS THE
DAILY NEWS"


london. Dec l7.-"The Chronicle" comment
ing on President Cleveland's message to Con-
eress on the Venezuelan question. will to-mor-
row say:
The message will be read in this country
with blank astOnishment. An American commits
sion TO determine what territory q British
colony can call own. and failing our COM
pance with Its finding by land and sea
with Great Britain!
can these be serious words addressed to US
by the descendants Of the little shipload of
English folks who sailed in the Mayhower? We
will not take things too seriously. We VIII
suppose that the President is engaged in the
familiar work OF twisting the lions tail. There
IS one answer to President Cleveland and Amer
ica II an enlarged application Of a neglected
doctrine is 10 be enforced with all the might
Of the United States. at least let us be as
sured of the correlative that the United States
will make itself responsible for the foreign policy
Of all the petty. impetuous little States the
two continents Of America. There is in
ternational right without corresponding duty"
The Chronicle" describes Lord Salisbury's dis
patch most temperate. and refers to the limi-
tation TO the Sohonburgk lse as concession
that only strong state could have granted to
a weak one. 1t adds
I'VE cannot abandon our settlers any more
than President Cleveland would his"
1T CANNOT BREAK THE TIES OF BLOOD
I'VE can only express genuine regret at the
tone Of the document. which meets no argumen.
made by Lord Salisbury. and which applies
threat Of force from a daughter State TO the
motherland over an obscure trumpery dispute
in which the United States has real interest
but the message cannot obscure or defeat the
affection which subsists between the two coun-
tries. or break the ties of blodd that must needs
bind them in indissoluble union"
The Daily News" will say:
THE Presidents communication is remark
able document, though its consequences are
not likely to be serious. Neither Mr.. Olney
the President seems TO realize that the Monroe
Doctrine cannot be quoted authoritative in
negotiations with foreign Power Both Of
them certainly far possible from sus-
pecting that the real author of the doctrine
was Canning. not Monroe. Great Britain in
1928 was jealous of the Spanish encroachments
in South America and induced Monroe TO pro-
test against European aggression on American
soil. The seventy-two years that have since
elapsed have entirely changed the situation.
The Monroe Doctrine is now purely Of his
torical interest. There can be no doubt that
the theory enunciated in 1893 dealt with the
acquisition or freSn territory, ana ndd nothing
20 do with disputes regarding the boundaries
Of territories already appropriated. The dehni-
tion Of the doctrine. however, is a matter for
the Americans themselves. 1t binds nobody
else. The Venezuelan difficulty must be
sldered on its own merits. This is what Lord
salisbury has done IN mastery dispatch.
AS he has refused general unrestricted arbitra
ton. upon which, by the way, the Monroe doc
trine is silent. 1t must be assumed that he would
not assent TO the mode Of ascertanng the rights
Of the parties that Mr.. Cleveland suggests. The
President account
ders the whole case. What Monroe meant was
that the United States would resent any Euro
pean attempt to establish mOnarchCal systems
In hostile communities on the American conti-
nent That serious consideration In 1928;
II Is altogether obsolete now, but what has al!
this TO do with the boundaries Of Venezuela?
The President proves too much II follows from
the message that Guiana and. indeed. Canada.
have no right OF Independent existence on Ameri-
can soil Mr.. Cleveland begs the whole question
and misrepresents II besides. when he says that
this country is seeking TO extend the limits Of
British Guiana. This country is doing nothing
OF the kind. Venezuela claims territory tnat Is
now Gulanese and British. II to resist this claim
be a breach Of the Monroe doctrine that doctrine
is an intolerable pretence.
The concluding portions OF Mr.. Cleveland'S
message are not expressed in the language
usually employed by one friendly Power to
another They are aggressive. even menacing.
England is threatened with war unless she per
mits Mr. Cleveland to adjust the boundaries
Of Venezuela. Happily. there is scme sense
Of humcr in the American people.
NOT UNsKILFUL AS A PARTY MOVE.
Regarded as a party move, the message is
not unskilful. 1t puts the Republicans in
hole If they agree to the appointment Of a
commission they will give Mr.. Cleveland such
credit as belongs to 1t, and will enable him or
the Democratic candidate to pose ac-
compIished twlster Of the lions tail. If.
the other hand they refuse 10 agree TO the
commission. they VIII give the Democrats
chance of denouncng them az being serVne
friends OF the British. but the great body or
the American public will not be mised by any
such motives or considerations The ordinary
American citizen cares nothing for Venezuela,
and has feeling against this country. lie
might be very Jealous FIR the Monroe Doctrine
when IL really defended American interests,
but the idea of making himself responsible
for the concerns Of every South American re-
public is too absurd for him TO regard II serl-
ousy
1T is not correct 70 say that Lord salisbury
has altogether rejected the idea Of arbitration.
on the contrary, he has partially accepted IL
The paper quotes from Lord Salisburys dis
patch to support this contention, and proceed
Eve believe that Lord salisbury's firm and
moderate statement # the case VIII appeal to
the justice and common-sense OF the American
people The principle Of international arbitra-
lion has always been warmly supported in these
columns, but if it is invoked for frivolous, fan
tastic demands II will lose It's authority and
become a bywor3 instead of an ideal"
The Morning Post" will sa.: president
Clevela nd has outdone the Republican parry in
his efforts TO show dislike for this country,
Vet he has not committed himself to anything.
The message does not make the slightest at
tempt TO grapple with Lord Sa1sburys argu-
ment that the United States cannot find any
excuse in the Language Of the Monroe Doctrine
Cor their appearance on the scene, or that. II
they could give the old Presidents words any
such extension his declaration has no au-
thority. The international law tribunal that
President Cleveland asks the Congress to set up
can have no more binding effect in TINS coun-
try than would a decision by the Supreme
Court at Washington.
THE STANDARDS" VIEWS.
"The Standard" will say: Most Englishmen
will read the message with unfeigned astonish-
ment The position taken by Mr. Cleveland Is
nreposterous No citizen Of the United States
would for moment dream Of admitting It's