The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-11-07
SENATOR MORGAN INTERVIEWED
He Speaks of Eng1and's Rights in vene-
zuela and Acquisition of Cuba.

| ne speaks OF EngIanOSs Rights IN tene-
zuela and Acquisition of Cuba.
Washington, Nov. 5.-Senator Nor.
gan, of Alabama, chairman of the for
eign relations committee, and an au-
| thority on international law, in an in
terview here, called attention to Lord
Salisbury's s claims that Great Britain
had acquired rights in the disputed ter
ritory adjoining Venezuela by treaty
with the native Indian tribes. He
said:
For the last three quarters of CEN
tury Great Britain has been forming,
| whenever she could. little by-arrange-
ments with Indian tribes that had
chieftains who were regularly consti-
tuted heads of the tribes. It was in
that way that she recognized the Mos
quito king, Clarence. Such treaties
with such people are made right in
the teeth of the well-understood and
well-asserted doctrine of Great Brit
ain, Germany, France, Spain, and all
the. American states, which. is that,
when country has acquired, by con-
quest or discovery, any territory, the
Indian tribes found therein are consid-
cred as occupants at will of the sover-
eighty, and are not regarded as nations
having sovereignty, such sovereignty
inuring to the nations that discovered
or conquered the territory. A recogni-
tion of the sovereignty of such Indian
tribes has been regarded as breach Of
the international rights of other ma
tions.
For this reason, any claims of
Great Britain with Venezuela, based
upon private treaties with Indian
chiefs, are of no avail, and should not
be recognized as being in conformity
with international law.
II think Great Britain is prepared
now to adjust the Venezuela boundary
question on the lines that were survey
ed by Schomberg. When the line was
established, the British colonists CON-
menced moving out to it and making
settlements, and particularly taking up
gold claims, and Venezuela, in her
weakness, has been compelled to stand
by and see that course pursued. Great
Britain sets up claim similar to that
of man who has occupied for a num-
Der of years territory belonging to
some one else.
81 would suppose that, unless Great
Britain moves to the north and west
ward of the Schomberg line, it is
scarcely probable that the United
States can be involved in the contro-
yersy, but if she is ever involved in
such controversy, the British govern
ment ought to be. compelled to avow or
disavow the dependency Of various
petty charges.
England might go to Alaska and
enter into treaty with the chiefs of
Indian tribes there with as much rea-
ss,1r- Asha7 conld d-make treatles with.
such tribes located to the south of us.
The gold fields and the territory at
the mouth of the Orinoso, which is the
key to the control of the entire central
portion of Venezuela, were the things
that inspired Great Britain's course.
In the interview the senator also
urged that it should be made part of
the foreign policy of the United States
to secure an understanding by which
we could deal in diplomatic matters
directly with Canada and Cuba, in
stead of through Great Britain and
Spain.
Turning to Cuba, the senator was
asked: ''Do you think congress would
be favorable to the purchase of Cuba,
if such proposition would be accept
able to Spain?''
81 have no right to suppose that
congress would. I can only suppose
that Spain, like every nation, will in
the end consult the highest interest of
her people, and she may find it to be a
patriotic duty to free herself from the
control of Cuba, which has more infiu-
ences on politics in Spain today than
any local question in the kingdom. I
do not care anything about the acqui-
sition of Cuba as an addition to our
territory, but I should want it for the
military strength it would give US. -