Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17

the Orinoco, of immense consequence in
connection with the whole river navigation
of the interior of South America. He dis
misses as valueless the contention that
British Guiana may IN this controversy be
regarded as an American state like Ven
ezuela He suggests that while Venezuela
might possibly not object to settling the
matter directly with British Guiana, If this
contention We're once allowed, every Euro
pean power with a South American colony
might extend its possessions indefinitely,
while other powers might do the same by
first procuring voluntary cession of a
small tract Of soil. It. Is not admitted, and
therefore cannot be assumed, that Great
Britain is In fact usurping dominion over
Venezuelan soil. While Venezuela charges
such usurpation. Great Britain denies 1t.
and the United States, until the merits are
authoritatively ascertained. can take sides
with neither. but it may demand that the
truth shall be ascertained. Being entitled
to resent and resist any seouestration Of
Venezuelan soil by Great Britain, 1T is
necessarily entitled to know whether such
sequestration has occurred or is now going
on.
There is but enc feasible mode of de-
termining the merits Of the question, and
that is peaceabie arbitration. Great Britain
admits that there is controversy which
should be adjusted by arbitration, but null
lifies this admission by her insistence that
the submission shall cover but part of
the controversy. If it were to point to
boundary which both parties either ex-
pressly or tactly had ever agreed to the
demand that the territory within that line
should be excluded from the dispute might
rest upon a reasonable basis. but there is
no such line. Great Britain has shown in
various instances that she was willing to
arbitrate her political and sovereign
rights when the interests or territory in
volved We're not of controlling magnitude;
thus she arbitrated the extent of her
colonial possessions with the United States
twice with Portugal, once with Germany
and perhaps in other instances.
Great Britain's Ipse Dfxit.
The Secretary quotes from some of these
arbitratiors in the past to sustain his as
sertion that the British demand for recog-
milton of her right to a portion of the
disputed territory before arbitration seems
to stand upon nothing but her own ipse
diXit She says comments Mr.. Olney) to
Venezuela in substance: "You can get
cause you not strong enough; you can
get none by treaty, because l will not
agree. and you can take your chance at
getting a portion by arbitration only if
you first agree to abandon tc me such
other portion as I may designate" This
attitude is rot characteristic with English
love of justice and fair play; it places
Venezuela under vital duress; the territory
acquired would be much wrested by the
strong hard as If occupied by British
troops, and it Is, quite impossible that this
position should be sanctioned by the United
States or that it should not be regarded as
amounting to invasion and conquest of
Venezuelan territory.
The Presidents Duty.
Summing up, Secretary Olney says:
In thess circums tances the duty of the
President appears to him unmstakable and
Imperative. Great Rritain's assertion of
title to the disputed territory, combined
with her refusal tc have that title investi-
gated, being substantial appropriation of
the territory to her own use, not to pro-
test and give warning that the transaction
will be regarded as injurious to the in
terests of the people of the United States
as we'll as oppressive In itself would be to
ignore an established policy, with which
the honor and welfare of this country are
closely ideI. While the measures
necessary or proper for the vindication of
that policy are to he determined by an
other branch of the govern nent, it Is
clearly for the executive to leave nothing
undone which may tend to render such
determination Unnecessary"
In conclusion Mr.. Bayard is directed to
read this communication to Lord Sails
bury, reinforced by such pertinent con-
sideratons would doubtless occur to
him. The communication calls for a def
mite decision as to whether Great Britain
will consent decline to submit the entire
boundary question to arbitration. The
President hopes that the conclusion will
be on the side of arbitration, but if he is
disappointed, "a result not to be antici-
pated and in his judgment calculated to
greatly embarrass the future relations be-
tween this country and Great Britain"
he wishes to be acquainted with the fact
at such early date as will enable him to
lay the whole subject before Congress, in
his next annual message.
A short note from Acting Secretary Adee
to Mr.. Bayard. of date July "a, explains
the basis for Secretary Olney's. statement
that the British claim was suddenly in
creased in two years by thirty-three thou