The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-04

WASHINGTON, Nov 3-senator Nor
gan, of Alabama, chairman of the foreign
relations committee and an authority on
international law, in an interview here,
called attention to Lord Salsbury's claim
that Great Britain had acquired rights
in the disputed territory adjoining Vene-
zuela by treaty with the native Indian
tribes
He said: For the last three quarters
OF century Great Britain has been
forming whenever she could, little by
arrangements with Indian tribes that had
chleftalns who were regularly constituted
'nto the tribes. 1t was in that way that
she recognized the Mosquito King Clar-
ence. Such treaties with such people
are made right in the teeth of the well
uunderst0od, well accepted doctrine OF
Great Britain. Germany, France, Spain
and all the American states, which is
that when a country has acquired by
conquest or discovery any territory the
d In tribes found therein are consider
ed as occupants at will of the sovereign,
ana are not regarded as nations having
sovereignty, such sovereignty inuring
to the nations that discovered or con-
the sovereignty of such Indian tribes has
been regarded as breach of the inter
national rights of other nations.
British Claims Worthless.
For this reason any claims of Great
Britain with Venezuela, based upon pri-
vate treaties with Indian chiefs, are of no
avail and should not be recognized as be-
ing IN conformity with international law.
/ think Great Britain is prepared now to
adjust the Venezuelan boundary question
on the lines that We're surveyed by
Schomberg When that line was estab-
lished the British colonists commenced
moving out to it and making settlements
and particularly taking up gold claims,
and Venezuela. III her Weakness, has been
compelled to stand by and see that course
pursued, until Great Britain sets up a
claim similar to that OF a man who has
occupied for a number of years terri
tory belonging to some one else.
i would suppose that unless Great
Britain moves to the north and west
ward of the Schonlberg line it is hardly
probable that the United States can be
involved in the controversy, but if she
is ever involved in such a controversy
the British government ought to be COM
PEELED to avow or disavow the depend
ence of various petty charges.
England might so to Alaska, and enter
into treaty with the chiefs of Indian
tribes tribes there with as much reason as she
located to the south of us.
Her Game of Grab.
The gold fields and the territory at
the mouth of the Orinoco which is the
key to the control OF the entire central
portion of Venezuela, We're, Senator Nor
gan said, the things that inspired Great
Britain's course. In the interview the
senator also urged that it should be made
a part of the foreign policy Of the United
states to secure an understanding by
which we could deal in diplomatic mat
tiers directly with Canada and Cuba in
stead of through Great Britain and Spain
Turning to Cuba, the senator was asked:
do you think congress would be favor
S11P
were acceptable TO Spain?'
L have no right to suppose that con-
gress would. | can only suppose that
the end, consult the highest interest of
her people, and she may find it to be a
patriotic duty to free herself from the
control of Cuba, which has more influence
on politics in Spain today than any local
question in the kingdom. | do not care
anything about the acquisition of Cuba
as an addition to our territory, but 1
should want it for the military strength
it would give u.s.
England Growing Discreet.
'Is England liable to interpose any OBJ
lection to the United States acquiring
Cuba or to take any active part in the
struggle now going on in that island?'
THAT will depend on whether she
thinks she can make anything by it.
She would not like to do anything that
would result in any open rupture with the
United States. Great Britain is in no po-
5ition to use coercion or threats in her
policy toward the United States. She
has resorted to a very different policy
Of late years and she now seeks her ends
by negotiation. She has so many possess
sions near our coast that war would be
4 great disaster to her, because no matter
now much our cities might be injured by
her navy, the conclusions of that war
would see Canada and the islands off our
coast in the hands of the United States"