New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-28
RUSSIA AND VENEZUELA.
SOME DIPLOMATIC "sTRAws" WHICH MAY
OR MAY NOT BE SIGNIFICANT.
HOW THE REPORTED RUssocHrNEsE TREATY
MIGHT INFLUENCE THE BOUNDARY DIS

uo,v THE prpopTED RUssO-CHfNESE TREATY
MIGHT INFLUENCE THE BOUNDARY DIS
prrE IN SOUTH AMERICA
Washington. Oct. Notwithstanding the fact
that Shanghai has been generally ana justly ois-
credited as source OF accurate Information III re-
gard to Chinese and Japanese comphca'iohs'
statements originating there In respect 10 d treaty
with China securing to Russia Northern Fac'''c
terminus for Its great Siberian railroad are geher
ally accepted in diplomatic circles here as true
Nor Is any doubt cast upon the other statement
from the same source that fleet or ntteeh RUS
sian warships has sailed for Fusan the Corean
port nearest to Japan. and barely twelve hours
distant from the japanese mainland. IL Is aiso
regarded as certain that this mcvetnen on the
part OF Russia will bring about grave compnca-
lions with Great Britain as threa tenng the secur-
ity Of the British Eastern Empire. The general
tone OF diplomatic discussion also recognizes the
fact that Great Britain stands alone among Euro
pean Powers without one ally upon whom she
could rely
It Is under these circumstances that the Venez-
uelan controversy comes under consideration and
| becomes mixed up with the threatening Eastern
war cloud While 1t is not supposed that hostili-
ties between the United States and Great Britain
can result from British intraction OF the Monroe
Doctrine in Venezuela and the alleged ultimatun
said TO have been addressed TO that little republic
(Which ultimatum, by-the-way, has not yet APP
peared In evidence). nevertheless the urgency OF
the situation has been recognized In two very Sig
ni1cant ways.
The first has relation 70 the farewell visit OF
Prince Cantacuzene, the late Russian Minister, to
Secretary Olney. 1t Is stated on good authority
that the Russian diplomats leave-takng obtained
especial Significance by his recalling the ancient
friendship Of Russia to the United States as man
Tested by the Emperor Alexander dispatchlng a
Russian squadron to New-York when France and
England threatened to recognize the southern
Confederacy. Prince Cantacuzhne II Is said, IN
timated in guarded diplomatic phrase, that
should similar emergency arise the good ofices or
Russia could be again depended upon. The i'm
portance of this interview was enhanced by an
| immediate manifestation OF excessive courtesy on
the part Of the leading remaining members OF tne
Russian Lega ton toward the Venezuelan Minister
! in Washington. Formal visits were exchanged IN
| a manner most unusual In the intercourse or
European diplomats and the representatives OF
| South American States whose interchange OF
courtesies has always hitherto been restricted 70
| public functions and ceremonial occasions The
| absence OF any conceivable motive except an ex.
| preston by Russia OF friendly interest IN penaii
Of Venezuela In its controversy with Great Brit
| ain, for these unusual unaccustomed diplomatic
calls. has given them much Importance a..
These diplomatic "straws" indicating the
| course which Russia would take In the event or
the United States controversy with Great Britain
| reaching an acute stage. have brought out an
| other significant and hitherto unpublished Incl
| dent which illustrates still more strongly how
completely isolated Great Britain Is in Its foreign
| policy. When Rio Janeiro was being bonn
| barded by the fleet Of Admiral Meo with view
| to the restoration Of the Portuguese monarchy,
and before Admiral Benham broke the blockade,
| Great Britain proposed to send SQUADRON TO
| Brazilian waters which would outnumber the
! American forces. When this intention was made
| known. the French Minister In Washington. by In
structions of his Government. waited upon Secre-
| tary Gresham and gave him the assurance that
for every additional warship sent by Great
Britain France would send two. That intima-
ton was enough: no more British ships were sent,
/ and the attempt TO re-establish Imperialism In
| Brazil fell 10 the ground.