Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-18
The British View.

Inc br1f1Sn view.
British press opinions on Mr.. Cleveland
Venezuelan message show the usual ten
dency to belittle the Importance and sim
certify of the Presidents utterances on in
ternational matters by intimatiras that the
document is inspired by partisan politics,
and that it is to be regarded in the light of
the approaching national convention. This
tone has been taken by the English jour-
rails so often on similar occasions that it's
adoption now is perfectly natural. II the
Presidents message were really inspired
by political motives rather than by a ma
tional spirit the reception of hearty acqui-
essence accorded to it by republicans.
democrats and populists alike has robbed
it of its partisan significance so far as
England is concerned. What confronts
Lord Salisbury now is no mere faction of
Americans, but the whole people
Some of the British papers also either
wilfully or Internationally misunderstood
the commission recommendation The
United States does not propose itself as an
arbitrator between Great Britain and Ven
ezuela. 1t reaffirms the principle that the
Americas are no longer subject to coloni-
cation by European monarchies, and de-
clares that arbitrary extensions of bound
airy lines. increasing at the will of the en-
CTOdCnlnS power the american
Jected to the European monarchical sys-
TEN, are as much violations of that prin-
ciple as any other method of aggression.
In order that the republic may know what
responsibilities fall upon 1t under this doc
trine in the Venezuelan controversy, 1t Is
necessary for the United States to know
what Is the American and what the Euro
rean territory in the disputed section If
Great Britain and Venezuela should agree
on this point, or, agreeing to disagree,
should permit the question to be settled by
arbitration, the matter could be determined
satisfactorily and readily, and for that rea-
son the United States suggested arbitra-
ton. But Great Britain rejects this sug-
geston, saying that her title to such OF
the alleged stolen property as her colonists
have occupied cannot be submitted to ar
btration since she will not permit her
colonists to be subjected by any possibility
to the Inconvenience of Venezuelan gov
eminent. Under these circumstances the
United States for its own guidance In
meeting what it conceives to be its duties
and responsibilities in the matter must as
certain for itself as best it can what is the
true line in the boundary contention. In
some way, whether by Congressional or
an executive commission, this information
will be acted upon.
The British idea of a flexible and extern
sible boundary line to its South American
colony, reinforced by that other British
principle that stolen property once occupied
is to be treated as unquestionably' British,
would, if carried to its logical extreme re-
suit in the British absorption of South
America Lord Salisbury says that Eng
10 To n
on a question of title claims based on the
extravagant pretensions of Spanish officials
in the last century, and involving the trans
fer of large numbers of British subjects who
have for many years enjoyed the settled
rule of a British colony to a nation of differ
ent race and language whose political sys-
tenn Is subject to frequent disturbance. and
whose institutions as yet too often afford
very inadequate protection to life and prop
erty." In other words, it makes no differ
ence who really owns the land. Since Brit
ish colonists, in the face of claims urged ''in
the last century and persistently main
tanned ever since, have taken possession of
certain land, it is to be maintained as I'M
QuestiOEably their land. From the Ven
ezuelan point of view the British have taken
advantage of Venezuela's inability to afford
adequate protection to Venezuelan property
row advance in Lord Salisbury's words the
Venezuelan inability to protect its property
as an argument why the stolen land should
not be restored, and why the question of its
ownership should not even be Irrigated in an
International court Trespassers are to be
arbitrarily and forcibly upheld in the occu-
patton of the property of other people be-
cause the trespassers prefer their own gov
eminent to that of the real owners of the
land. The position taken by Lord Salisbury
is absolutely untenable Public opinion in
England ought to force the English govern
ment to prompt and amicable settlement
with Venezuela of the boundary question
England ought to recognize that South
America is not Africa, and that she cannot
fix the line arbitrarily to suit herself. The
United States has neither formed nor ex-
pressed opinion as to where the true
boundary line lies. But it has declared that
what nobody but England denies to be Ven
ezuelan property, and what it becomes con-
WINGED is Venezuelan property, shall not be
forcibly taken from the American and placed
under the European system, If it can pre-
vent by any means the aggression.
. l