The Somerset reporter., 1895-12-19
Venezuelan Affairs.


| pending boundary controversy between
Great Britain aud the republic of Vene-
zuela and reelted the substance of a rep
| resentation made by this government to
her BrltaDc Majesty's government sug
costing reasons why such dispute should
be submitted To arbitration for settle
ment and inquiring whether it would be
submitted. The answer of the British
government, which was then awaited,
has since been received and together with
the dispatch to which it is reply. is
hereto appended.
"Sueh reply is embodied in two com
munieations addressed by the British
prime minister to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
the British ambassador at this capital,
1t will be seen that one of these commu-
nications is devoted exclusively t. obser-
vations upon the Monroe doctrine and
claims that in the present instance, a
new aud strange extension and develop
ment of this doctrine is insisted on by
the United States. that the reasons just-
| flying an appeal 10 the doctrine enunciat-
ed by President Monroe are generally in
applicable to the state of things in which
we live at the present day, and especial
| ly inapplcable to a controversy involv-
ing the boundary line between Great
Britain and Venezuela.
without attempting extended argu-
ment in reply to these positions, it may
not be amiss TO suggest that the doctrine
upon which we stand is strong and sound
because its enforcement is important to
our peace aud safety as nation, and is
essential to the integrity of our free in
situations and the tranquil maintenance
of our distinctive form of government.
1t was intended to apply to every stage
of our national life and cannot become
obsolete while our republic endures.
"Assumng, therefore, that we may
properly insist upon this doctrine with
out regard to the state of things in which
we live or any changed conditions here
or elsewhere, it is not apparent why its
application may not be invoked in the
present controversy. If European
power by any extension OF its bouuda-
ries, takes possession of the t. rrltory of
one of our nelghboring republics against
| its will and IN derogation of its rights,
| it is difficult to see why to that extent
such European power does not thereby
attempt to extend its system of govern
ment to that portion of this continent
which is thus taken
This is the precise action which
| President Monroe declared to be danger =
| Gus to our peace and safety, and it can
make no difference whether the Euro
pean system is extended by an advance
| of frontier or otherwise.
sit is also suggested in the British re-
ply that we should not seek to apply the
Monroe doctrine to the pending dispute,
because it does not embody any princi-
pie of international law which is founded
| on the general consent of nations, and
that no statement however eminent, and
no nation, however powerful, is compe-
| tent to insert into the code of interna-
| ional law novel principle which was
never recogniz d before, and which has
not since been accepted by the govern
ment of any other country.
ain the belief that the doctrine for
! which we contend was clear and definite,
that it was founded upon substantial
considerations and involved our safety
and Welfare, that it WAS fully applicable
to our present conditions and to the state
of the worlds progress aud that it was
directly related to the pending contrO-
versy and without any conviction as To
the final merits of the dispute, but anX-
ious 10 learn in a satisfactory and con-
elusive manner whether Great Britain
sought unuer claim of boundary To ex-
tend her possessions in this continent
without right, or whether she III, rely
sought possession of territory fairly in
cluded within her lines OF owner ship,
this government proposed to the govern
ment of Great Britain a resort to arbitra-
ton as the proper means of settling the
question, To the end that vexatious
| boundary dispute between the two con-
testants might be determined, and our
exact standing and relation in respect TO
the controversy might be made clear.
at will be seen from the correspond
ance herewith submitted, that this propo-
sition has been declined bv the British
government, upon grounds which in the
Gil cumslanCes seem to me To be far from
satisfactory. The course to be pursued
by this government in view Of the pre-
sent conditions, does not appear to adj
nit of serious doubt. Having labored
faithfully for many years to induce
Great Britain To submit This dispute to
impartial arbitration, and having been
finally apprised oi her refusal to do so,
nothing remains but to accept the situa-
ton, TO recognize it's plain requirements
and deal with it accordingly.
Great Britain's present proposition has
thus far been regarded rs Iuadmissable
by Venezuela, though any adjustment of
the boundary which that country may
deem for her advantage and may enter
into Of her own free will, cannot OF
course be objected to by the United
States. Assuming, however, that the
attitude of Venezuela will remain un-
hanged, the dispute has reached such a
stage as to make it now incumbent upon
the | uited States to take measures to de-
termine with sufficient certainty for its
Justification, what is the true divisional
line between the republic of Venezuela
and British Guiana. The inquiry to that
end should of course be conducted care
fully and judically and due weight
should be given To all able evidence, re-
cords and facts in support of the claims
OF both parties. When such report is
made and accepted it will, in my opin-
ion, be the duty of the United States TO
resist by every means in its power as a
wiltul aggression upon its rights and III
terests, the appropriation by Great Brit
ain of any lands or the exercise of gov
eminent Or Jurisdiction, over any terri
tory which, after investigation, we have
determined Of right, belongs to Venezue-
la.
Hon. Edward Wiggin was reelected