The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05
AWAITING THE ANSWER.
The Republic Will Fight Before
1t Will Submit to For
eign Rule.
ENGLAND's REASONS GIVEN.
The Right of the United States as
an Arbitrator Not Admitted
by the Crown.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April An
formation at hand to-day points to the
probability of the United States becoming
more seriously involved with Great Britain
in the Venezuela dispute. Diplomatic and
political circles are keenly interested in
this situation, and the matter was sub
ject of general comment to-day.
The politicians say that this question is
to furnish basis for the administration to
m axe either good political capital for itself
in the next few months or else to make
disastrous break. With this question to
the front, the President is likely to be
doubly thankful that the possibilities of
the necessity for calling an extra session of
Congress are not imminent. Among the
Republicans there is feeling of satisfac-
ton that the administration has clear
field for the handling OF the impending
foreign complications, for they are stout in
their belief that the Republican party will
not lose any prestige by the outcome.
1t is stated by persons in position to
speak with authority that as soon as Vene-
zuela is convinced Great Britain has finally
decided not to arbitrate or settle the boun-
dairy dispute as suggested by the United
southern republic will regretfully but reso-
lutely resort to what she regards as her
only course resort to force. 1t is de-
clared that her people are ready to see their
homes and their cities desolated and laid
in ashes rather than to submit to what
they regard as national dishonor. 1t is
said that the contention with Great Britain
is not SO much one of territory as of senti-
ment So firmly impressed have the peo-
pie become with this that the opinion is
expressed that they would rather see the
country go out of existence than pass into
the practical control of foreign hands.
A strong feeling exists in the Venezuelan
Government that the United States will
not stand idly by if a resort to force is
made 1t is understood that the position
of Great Britain in declining the sugges
ton of the United States for the settlement
of the trouble with Venezuela is substan-
italy as follows:
First-Great Britain takes the position
that the question of arbitration was once
before proposed by Venezuela. At that
time the Foreign Office gave the subject
most careful attention, and submitted a re-
ply embodying proposition to arbitrate
certain definite subjects OF the controversy.
To this proposition Venezuela has never
made reply, either accepting or rejecting
the proposed basis of arbitration. Under
the circumstances it is not desirable to
proceed to second proposal of arbitra-
ton when the first remains unanswered.
Second-In any event there are certain
portions of that territory to which Vene-
zuela lays claim which under no circum-
stances will be made the subject of arbi-
tration, as they are recognized portions of
the British domain, and are not therefore,
subjects in which the question of arbitra-
ton could be invoked.
Third-Tbe subject-matter is one be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela, so that
the good offices of the United States are
not essential to settlement, as it is not
understood that the United States has as
sumed protectorate over Venezuela or
her interests other than that of friendly
Government.