Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1895-12-21

attempt 10 tNtStll IlS system VI S5QN tt IL
ment to that portion of this continent
which IS thus taken. This is the precise
action which President Monroe declared
TO he dangerous TO our peace and safe
ty.' and it can make no difference WheIh-
er the European system is extended by
an advance of frontier or otherwise.
It is also suggested in the British re-
ply that we should not seek to apply the
Monroe doctrine to the pending dispute,
because lit does not embody any prin-
ciple of international law which is found
ed on the general consent OF nations, :
and that no statesman. however eminent.
and no nation, however powerful. are
competent to insert into the code Of inter-
national law a novel principle which was
never recognized before, and which has
not since been accepted by the governs
ment of any other country
\ RIGHTEOUS PRINCIPLE.
Practically the principle for which We
contend has a peculiar, if not exclusive
relation to the United States. 1t may
not have been admitted i'll so many words
to the code Of international law, but since
in interna tional counsels every nation is
entitled to the rights belonging to it.
of the enforcement Of the Monroe doe
trine is something We may justly claim.
it has its place in the code of international
law as certainly and as securely as if il
were specifically mentioned. and where
the United States is the suitor before the
high tribunal that administers interna
tional law, the question TO be determined
is whether or not We present claims
which the justice OF that code of law can
find to be right and valid.
The Monroe doctrine finds its recogni-
ton in those principles of international
law which are based upon the theory that
every nation shall have its rights pro
tected and its just claims enforced. OF
course this government is entirely CON
hdent that under the same sanction OF
this doctrine we have clear rights and
unGouhted claims.
Nor is this ignored in the British reply.
The prime minister, While not admitting
that the Monroe doctrine is not applica-
bic to the present conditions, states
in declaring that the United States
would resist any such enterprise
President Monroe adopted a policy which
received the entire sympathy of the En-
glish government of that late,
He further declares: Though the Ian
suaee of President Monroe is directed to
the attainment of objects which most
Englshmen would agree to be saIutary,
it is impossible to admit that they have
been inscribed by any adequate authority
in the code of international law" Again
he says: They cher majesty's govern
menO fully concur with the view which
President Monroe apparently entertained
that any disturbance of existing terri
toria! distr button i'll that hemisphere by
any fresh acquisitions on the part Of any
European state would be a highly mex
pedient CHANGE
ARBITRATION REFUSED.
IN the belief that the doctrine for which
We contend was clear and definite; hat it
was founded upon substantial cons.Gera-
tions and involved our safety and welfare,
that it was fully applicable to our present
conditions and to the state OF the world s
progress. and that it was directly related
10 the pending controversy. and without
any conviction as to the final merits of the
dispute, but anxious to learn in a salts
factory and conclusive manner whether
Great Britain sought, under the claim Of
boundary. to extend her possessions On
this continent without right, or whether
she merely sought the possession Of the
territory included within her lines of
ownership, this government proposed TO
the government Of Great Britain to re-
sort 10 arbitration as the proper means
of settling the question, to the end that
the VeXatous boundary dispute between
the two countries might be determined and
our exact standing and relation in respect
to the controversy might be made clear
1t will be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted that this proposition
has been declined by the British govern
ment upon grounds which under the cir
cumstances seem to me to be far from
satisfactory 1t is deeply disappointing
that such an appeal, actuated by the most
friendly feelings toward both nations di-
rectly concerned, addressed to the sense
of justice and unaniminity of one Of the
great powers of the worlI and touching
it's relations TO one comparatively weak
and small, should have produced nc better
results.
The course to be pursued by this gov
ernnent. in view of the present condition
does not appear to admit of serious doubt
| Having Iabored faithfully for many years
| to induce Great Britain to submit this
dispute to arbitration, and having been
| now finally apprised of her refusal to dc
| So nothing remains but to accept the
| situation, to recognize its plain require
| ments and deal with it accordingly. Great
| Britain's present proposition has never
! thus far been regarded as admissible by
| Venezuela, though any adjustment oi
| boundary which that country may deem
| fer her advantage and may enter into OF
| her own free will, can not of course be
| objected TO by The United States.
Assuming, however, that the attitude ot
| Venezuela will remain unchanged. the
| dispute has reached such a stage as tC
| make it now incumbent upon the United
| States to take measures to determine
| with sufficient certainty for its own iusti
/ fcation what is the true divisional line be
| tween the republic of Venezuela and Brit
| ish Guiana. Inquiry to that end shonis
of course be conducted carefully ana ju-
/ ,;,rJ,+ 10 .,I
| availia BILE evidence, records and facts il
support of the claims of both parties.
LET Us INVESTIGATE.
In order that such examination should
be prosecuted in d thorough and satisfac
| tory manner. ] suggest that congres!
make an adequate appropriation for tht
| expenses of commission TO pc APPOINTED
bv the executive who shall make the nee
-ssarv Investigation and report upon tn
| matter with the least possible delay. Nhel
such report is made and accepted it Will
| in nv opinion be the duty of the Unite;
| states to resist by every means in its pow
er, as a villful aggression upon its right
and interests the appropriation by Gfrea
Britain of any lands or the exercise 0
governmental jurisdiction over any ter
ritory which after irvestiga ton we hay
determined Of right belong to Venezuela
| In making these recommendation | ;i
fullv alive to the responsibility incurre
and keenly realize all the consequence
that may follow. I am, nevertheless, flff
in my conviction that while it is a gfie
vous thing to contemplate the two grea
English speaking peoples Of the world AT
being otherwise than friendly competitor
in the onward march of civilization an
strenuous and worthy rivals in all IN
arts of peace, there is no calamity Whic
a great nation can invite which equal
that which follows the supine submi!
sion to wrong and injustice and the COZ
sequent loss of national self-respect an
honor, beneath which is shielded ana dt
Tended the peoples safety and greatnes
GROVER CLEVELAND.
, Executive Mansion. December II, 1888.