The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-06-20
FOR OLNEY TO DECIDE
Existing Complications With
Foreign Governments.
A SERIOUS ONE WITH ENGLAND

This Is the British-venezuelan Cues
ton, Because of Its Involving
the Monroe Doctrine.
Washington, June 11.-Secretary of
State Olney is expected to take the oath
of office tomorrow. There will be no
undue haste, however on the part of
the new chief of the state department.
Mr.. Olney has given much close study
to the larger law questions before his
department and it will take some time
for him to put the work aside and for
the new attorney general to grow into
it. Mr.. Olney, moreover, is equipped
in advance for the duties of his new
office, as he has been consulted con-
stantly during the last year on the
various complications over Venezuela,
Nicaragua, Behring sea, the Waller
case, foreign tariff retaliation, the jap
anese- Chinese troubles, SPANS conflict
with Cuba, and the lesser questions in
which the United States has been
brought in relation with the rest of the
world
The last year has been unusually
fruitful in foreign complications.
Some of these were closed by Mr..
Gresham, Or advanced to such state
that they will not require much further
attention. Among these were the Brit
ish-N icaraguan incident, in which the
United States aided toward a settle
ment; the Japan China treaty Of peace,
which was effected as a result of the
kindly intervention by the United
States, and the friction with Hawaii
as the result of the demand for the re-
call of Minister Thurston. The other
foreign questions which attracted pub
lie attention during Mr.. Gresham's adj
of the department are still
pending. With Great Britain there
are two questions of Importance to be
adjusted, those affecting Behring sea
and the Venezuelan boundary. A
sea conference will be held in
in October next, Sir Julian
Pauncefote having effected the prelim-
mary arrangements with Mr.. Gresham.
The purpose is to draft new treaty by
which the claims of Canadian sealers
for ALLEGED seizures and losses will be
submitted to commission. The con-
ference will not take up the more i'm
portant question of readjusting the
Behring sea regulations in order to
make them effective. This will come
later, however, and promises to call out
a vigorous legal and diplomatic contro-
versy.
The ritish-Venezuelan question is
mainly significant in involving the
doctrine The United States
has asked Great Britain to arbitrate the
question. So far as is known no def
mite answer has been made to Ambassa-
dor Bayard, who presented the request
Of this country. The British foreign
office has positively declined to consider
similar requests by Pope Leo and by
the International Arbitration Associa-
ton, and it is not doubted that in due
time declinatiOn will come to the
United States. It will then remain for
the state department to determine to
what extent British aggression i'll Ven
ezuela is compatible with the Monroe
doctrine. Mr.. Gresham had made a
special study of the subject, regarding
it as of more Importance than any of
the foreign questions under considera-
ton. Mr.. Olney was called into con-
ference, and for several weeks prior
to his selection for the secretary of state
he was busy Investigating this compli
Gated question. 1t is probable that
definite issue will be reached when
Ambassador Bayard sends Britain's
answer.
With France the only question of
pending is as to the i'm
prisonment of ex-Consul- General Wal
Ter. Ambassador Eustis has been in
to make inquiries with view
of securing for Waller all the rights of
an American citizen abroad, including
a trial by a civil court.
Germany, Austria and Denmark are
having numerous tariff complications
with the United States which threaten
ed at one time to bring about radical
by this country. The read
justment has proceeded largely through
the state department. Germany and
Denmark continue their exclusion of
American meats, but there are pros
poets that a satisfactory settlement
will be effected. The discriminating
duties levied against the beet sugar of
Germany and Austria brought on the
conflict and Denmark followed the lead
of her influential neighbors.
The Cuban revolution promises to be
a source of controversy with Spain.
Minister Dupuy de LONE has already
asked the state department to appre-
bend those sending arms to Cuba, and
the suggestion is made that Spain will
make a claim against the United States
based on the precedent of the Alabama
claims. Officials are not solicitous,
however, as to this claim, and the init
nation is made that it is inspired by
British sources out Of resentment for
the Alabama decision.
The Sanger and Murphy Match.
Noxr York Juna 1T has been de.