The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-18
CLEVELAND DEMANDS ARBITRATION OR WAR;

country.
States is suitor before the high tribunal
that administers international law, the
question to be determined is whether or
not we present the claims which the justice
of that code of law can find to be right and
valid.
1.-The Monroe doctrine finds its recogni-
tion in those principles of international
law which are based upon the theory that
every nation shall have its rights protected
and its just claims enforced. OF course,
this Government is entirely confident that
under the sanction of this doctrine we
have clear rights and undoubted claims.
Nor is this ignored in the British reply.
The Prime Minister, while not admitUin g
that the Monroe doctrine is applicable
to the present conditions, states: In de-
claring that the United States would re-
sist any such enterprise if it was contem-
plated, President Monroe adopted pol
icy which received the entire sympathy of
the English Government of that date
"He further declares: Though the lam
guage of President Monroe is directed to
the attainment of the objects which most
Englishmen would agree to be statutory,
it is impos sible to admit that they have
been inscribed by any adequate authority
in the code of international law.
'Again he says: "They cher Majesty's
Government) fully concur with the view
which President Monroe apparently en-
tertained, that any disturbance of exist
ing territorial Distribution in that hemis
phere by any fresh acquisition on the part
of any European state would be highly
inexpedient change
''In the belief that the doctrine for which
we contend was clear and definite, that 1t
was founded upon substantial considera-
tions and involved our safety and welfare,
that it was fully applicable to our present
conditions and to the state of the worlds
progress, and that it was directly related
to the pending controversy and without
any conviction as to the final merits of
the dispute, but anxious to learn in a
satisfactory and conclusive manner
whether Great Britain sought, under the
claim of boundary, to extend her posses
sions on this continent without right, or
whether she merely sought the possession.
of territory facially included within her
lines of ownership, this Government pro-
posed to the Government of Great Britain
to resort to arbitration as proper means
of settling the question to the end that
a vexatious boundary dispute between
the two contestants might be determined
and our exact standing and relation in
respect to the controversy might be made
clear.
at will be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted that this proposition
has been declined by the British Gov
ernment upon grounds which under the
circumstances seem to me to be far from
satisfactory. 1t is deeply disappointing
that such an appeal, actuated by the most
friendly feelings toward both the nations
directly concerned, addressed to the sense
of justice and to the magnanimity of one
of the great powers of the world, and
touching its relations to one comparatively
weak and small, should have produced no
better results.
1.-The course to be pursued by this Gov
eminent, in view of the present condi-
ton, does not appear to admit of serious
doubt. Having labored faithfully for
many years to induce Great Britain to
submit this dispute to impartial arbitra-
ton, and having been now finally apprised
of her refueal to do SC, nothing remains
but to accept the situation. to recognize
its plain requirements and deal with it
accordingly.
Great Britain's present proposition has
never thus far been regarded as admissible
by Venezuela, though any adjustment of
boundary which that country may deem
for her advantage, and may enter into of
her own free will, cannot, of course, be OBJ
jected 10 by the United States. Assuming,
however, that the attitude of Venezuela
will remain unchanged, the dispute has
reached such stage as to make it now in
cumbent upon the United States to take
measures to determine with sufficient GER
talnty for its justification what is the true
divisional line between the Republic of
Venezuela and British Guiana. Inquiry to
that end should. of course, be conducted
carefully and judicially, and due weight
should be given to all availa BILE evidence,
records and facts in support of the claims
of both parties.
ain order that such an examination
should be prosecuted in a thorough and
satisfactory manner, l suggest that Con-
gress make adequate appropriation for
the expenses of a commission to be ap-
pointed bv the executive, who shall make
the necessary investigation and report
upon the matter with the least possible
delay. When such report is made and ac-
cepted, it will, in my opinion, be the duty
of the United States to resist by every
means in its power as willful aggression
upon its rights and interests the appro-
priation by Great Britain of any lands or
the exercise of governmental jurisdiction
over any territory which, after investiga-
ton, we have determined of right belongs
to Venezuela.
''In making these recommendations, l
am fully alive to the responsibility in
CURED, and fully realize all the conse-
quences that may follow. am nevertheless
firm in my conviction that while it is a
grievous thing to contemplate the two
great English-speaking peoples of the
world as being otherwise than friendly
competitors in the onward march of civil
ization and strenuous and worthy rivals in
all the arts of peace, there is no calamity
which great nation can invite which
equals that which follows supine submis-
sion to wrong and injustice and consequent
loss of national self-respect and the honor
beneath which is shielded and defended
the peoples safety and greatness.