The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-04
BOUND TO STEAL THE oRlNoco
United States Must Enforce the Men-
roe Doctrine or Drop Ii.
The Smaller rSpanish-Amerfcan Repnb-
Hes Are HopeleSsiy I'm Debt-They
Can Neither Pay Nor Fight England
IL That Country Decides to Fore
close-America Looked on as Their
Protector.

Washington City, April s-There Is rea-
son 20 believe that the British govern
meaf has given our ambassador Mr. Bay
ard, 10 understand. In response 20 his
representation in the Venezuelan bound
airy matter. and on his suggestion that
Ii be submitted TO arbitration. that 1t
must persist to regard the subject as one
In which Great Britain and Venezuela
alone are concerned. OF course, the idea
was set out very dipiomaticaliy and cour-
teously. so as TO avoid giving offense as
far as possible. while still making it
plain that the United States could not
be regarded as having any proper inter-
est IN the matter. So. as it stands. the
British government still insists upon its
absolute title and right 20 occupy all
the territory 10 the eastward of the
Schomburgk line. while processing a will
ingness 10 submit TO arbitration its claim
10 the lands lying west of that line. This
was the offer made TO Venezuela years
ago, and II has not been modified In any
respect since. Notwithstanding MIR. Bay
ards efforts.
Ii has been intinated that the United
States might acquire right to intervene
In behalf OF Venezuela by declaring a
protectorate over that country with its
assent, and behind this suggestion is at
least one of the great European countries.
which would be glad TO have its relations
with the disturbed countries of South and
Central America placed on a stable basis.
so that IL might lock to some thoroughly
responsible. highly civilized government
10 insure the permanency OF trade and
prevent frequent revolutions. But to con-
cede the necessity of such "a protectorate
as a prerequisite to Interference to pre-
vent the acquisition OF American territory
by an European power would amount to
a renunciation OF the Monroe doctrine by
the United States, and this cannot be
contemplated by the administration.
There are Indications that the British
foreign officials are willing 10 discuss
this feature of the case with Mr.. Bayard
at length, and so things may drag along
for many months unless collision occurs
between the British and Venezuelan
forces in the disputed territory or the new
Minnesota syndicate forces negotiations
by beginning operations under the large
concession Ii has obtained from Nene-
zuela of lands In that territory.
The apparent effects OF MIR. Bayard's
efforts are being watched with intense
interest by all the diplomatic interests Of
the South and Central American countries
stationed at Washington City. One OF
these representatives, In speaking on the
subject, said majority OF the South
American republics were staggering under
foreign debts, and were unable longer to
meet their obligations. The. question
confronting these countries is whether
the United States viii stand by and allow
the creditor nations 10 collect these debts
by force Meanwhile. TO strengthen their
claim for protection upon the United
States there is in progress among the
smaller and weaker republics movement
to entangie their interests with our own,
so as to make IL matter of deep concern
TO our people should any European power
attack them.