Evening star., 1895-10-19
SHE WILL NOT YIELD,
Great Britafn's Probable Course on
the XeneAaeIan B0undnry Dispute.

Great Britafn's Probable Course on
the Venezuelan Boundary Dispute.
1t is strongly indicated that Great Britain
is not going to yield to the United States
in the Venezuelan matter. A reply such as
outlined in the semi-official British express
sions would result in a very serious situa-
tion. 1t is intimated that the British gov
ernment would have, at lirst, been glad of
an opportunity to retire with dignity from
her extreme position in the matter, but
that public sentiment In both countries is
likely to interfere with any compromise
The attention the matter has attracted in
this country would make 1t extremely awk-
ward for the administration to yield any
thing in the controversy to fail to en-
force the Monroe doctrine in letter and in
spirit. On the other hand, the discussion of
the question in the British press has excit-
ed public sentiment there on the subject.
Lord Snlfsbury's Position.
1t is said that for Lord Salisbury to show
what the British public would regard as
weakness in dealing with the matter would
endanger his party being thrown out of
power. 1t is complained, therefore, that
the publicity given to the fact that let
ter was sent to Mr.. Bayard requesting a
settlement of the dispute has done great
harm. The probability of Great Britain
yielding is lesseTcd, and if she does not
yield this country is compelled to make
good the declaration of devotion to the
Monroe doctrine.
1t is believed that at the outset there
was good reason to thirk that Lord Sails
bury would make proposition which could
be accepted by Venezuela with honor and
approved by the United States. This pros
pect is now verg SLIM Nothing can be
learned from the Venezuelan legation about
the alleged contract of that country for
Maxim gurs. The minister declined to dis
cuss the question, with a polite statement
that he has no new information on the sub
ject of tie dispute.
Preparing to Occupy the Territory.
There is little doubt, however that both
Venezuela and Great Britain are preparing
for the complete military occupation of the
disputed territory. At one stage of the con-
troversy it was agreed between the coun-
tries that neither should occupy the terri
tory until the question of rightful possess
Britain disregarded and not only occupied
the territory. but from time to time ex-
tended her outposts and claimed more ter
ritory. There have been a number of ex-
tensions of boundary lines, until now the
claim of Great Britain includes country
many times larger than that originally in
dispute.
venezuela's Plan.
Some time ago the eneZuelan govern
ment decided to take military possession of
all the territory she claimed and to estab-
lish posts to tine utmost limits of her
boundary. Preparations to this end are,
doubtless, now in progress. Venezuela is,
of course, entirely too weak to contend
alone with Great Britain. but counting upon
the interposition of the United States to
prevent an unjust encroachment by Great
Britain, there is doubt that the Vene-
zuelan government will advance to the
point of armed hostility to MAINTAIN ner
territorial rights.
1t is expected that very soon after the
Urited States Congress meets the Nene-
zuelan government will make an aggressive
move If the announcement that the Brit
ish contemplate similar move, as made
in the London papers, IS correct, the forces
of each country will be opposed to each
armed conflict may be expected al any time.
Lord Salisbury's Intention.
All information from British sources seems
to Indicate an intention on the part of Lord
Salisbury and Mr.. Chamberlain to forestall
any movement on the part of the Venezuelan
government, and 1t is regarded as not i'm
probable that they would ike to precipi-
tate a conflict between Great Britain and
Venezuela before the negotiations instituted
by Mr. Bayard in behalf of the United States
have advanced beyond the stage of a mere
declaration part of an intention to
insist upon the Monroe doctrine being re-
spected. Great Britain would like to have
established her claim to the disputed terri
tory by actual occupation before discussing e
the question of arbitration. What she would
then be willing to arbitrate would amount
practically to the question whether she