Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-12-28
WAR WITH ENGLAND LIKELY

Fight.
The President Informs III National
Representatives That the Re-
ply Of Premier Salisbury Is
Unsatisfactory Asks
for a Commission
10 Go to Vene-
Zuela.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE president
cent to congress today the Venezuelan
correspondence accompanied by a sig
nificant message.
The reply of the British government
is embodied in two communication 40
dressed by the British prime minister u
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am
bassador at Washington. one OF thes'
communications is devoted exclusively
to observations upon the Monroe doc
trine and claims that in the present IN
stance a new and strange extension
and development of this doctrine Is IN
sisted on by h United States; that ths
reasons justifying an appeal TO the doc
trine enunciated by President Monroe
are generally inapplicable ito the state
Of things in which we live at the present
day and especially inapplicable to o
controversy involving the boundary line
between Breat Britain and Venezuela
Commenting upon these contentious, the
president In his message says:
Cleveland Comments.
"If a European power, by an extensio.
of its boundaries, takes possession of the
territory Of one of our neighboring re-
publics against its will n in derogatior
Of its rights, 1t is difficult to see why, tc
that extent, such European power does
not thereby attempt to extend it's system
Of government to that portion of this
continent which is thus taken. This is
the precise action which President Mon.
roe declared to be dangerous to oui
peace and safety and it can make nc
difference whether the European system
is extended by an advance of frontier
or otherwise.
at 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 VI lllltl Ildllplldl law NIllNh 10 Jun
ed on the general consent Of nations"
In answer the president declares hat
the Monroe doctrine fnds it's recognition
in those principles of international law
which are based upon the theory that
every nation shall have it's rights pro
tected and its just claims enforced.
The president then u the pro-
posal he made to the British govern
roa,t a., catt1. Tho hnpnlar, ~, dicr,ta hl
arbitration and continues:
at will be seen from the correspond
ence herewith submitted that this prop
osition has been declined by the British
government upon grounds which in the
circumstances seem to me to be far from
satisfactory. 1t is deeply disappoint-
ing that such an appeal actuated by the
most friendly feelings towards both ma.
lions directly concerned. addressed to
the sense Of justice and 10 the mag.
nanimity of one Of the great powers Of
the world and touching it's relations to
one comparatively weak and small.
should have produced no better results
Our Course Is Plain.
"The course to be pursued by this
government in view of the present con-
dition does not appear to admit of seri-
Gus doubt. Having labored faithfully
for many years to induce Great Britain
to submit this dispute to imperial arbi-
tration, and having been now finally APP
prised Of her refusal to do so, nothing
remains but to accept the situation, to
recognize it's plain requirements and
deal with 1t accordingly. Great Brit
aims present proposition has never thus
far been regarded as admissible 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 atti-
tude of Venezuela will remain I'M
changed the dispute has reached such a
stage as to make ii now incumbent upon
the United States to take measures TO
determine with sufficient certainty for
its justification what is the true divis-
ional line between the republic of Ven
ezuela and British Guiana. The inquiry
to that end should of course, be con-
Quoted carefully and judicially, and
due weight would be given
to all available evidence. records and
facts in support of the claims Of both
parties.
Wants a Commission Appointed.
"In order that such an examination
should be prosecuted in a thorough and
satisfactory manner, l suggest thai the
congress make an adequate a%ppropria-
ton for the expenses of a commission
to be appointed by the executive, who
shall make the necessary investigation
and report upon the matter with the
least possible delay. 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 it's power as a
willful aggression upon its rights and in
terests the appropriation by Great Brit
ain of any lands or the exercise OF gov
ernmental jurisdiction over any terri
tory which after investigation we have
determined Of right belongs to Venezu.
Ella.
Realizes the Consequences.
"In making these recommendations ]
am fully alive to the responsibility in.
CURED and keeniy realize all the conse.
quences that may follow. 1 am never,
theless firm in my conviction that while
1t is a g~rievous thing to contemplate the
two great English speaking peoples OF
the world as being otherwise than
friendly competitors in the onward
march Of civilization and strenuous and
worthy rivals in all the arts Of peace,
there is nc calamity which a great ma
ton can invite which equals hat which
follows a supine submission to wrong
and injustice and the consequent loss
Of national self respect and honor be-
meath which is shielded and defended a
naanIa,c cofatxy md @raotnAco
Grover Cleveland"
Executive Mansion, December II
1885,"
THE CORRESPONDENCE.