Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-12-17
SANTA FE. n. M. TUESDAY. DECEMBER II 1895
was never recognized before, and which
has not since been accepted by the gov

was never recognized before, and which
has not since been accepted by the gov
ernmenG of any other country"
Practically the principle for which We
contend has peculiar, il not an ex-
clusive, relation to the United States. II
may not have been admitted in SO many
words to the code OF International law
but, since in international councils every
nation is entitled to the rights belonging
to it, if the enforcement of the Monroe
doctrine is something we may justly
claim, it has its place in the code of in
ternational law rs certainly and as se-
curely as if it were specifically mentioned,
and, when the United States is suitor
before the high tribunal that administers
international law, the question to be de-
termined is whether or not We present
claims which the Justice of that code of
law can find to be right and valid.
The Monroe doctrine finds it's recogni-
tion 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.
OF couree, this government is entirely
confident that, under the sanction of this
doctrine, we have clear rights and un-
doubted claims.
Nor is this ignored in the British reply.
Tho prime minister, while not admitting
that the Monroe doctrine is applicable to
the present conditions, states: SIN de-
claring that the Unf7ed States would re-
sist any snoh enterprise, il it was con.
tenn plated, President Monroe adopted a
policy which received the entire sympa-
thy Of the English government of that
date"
The British premier further declares
"Though the language of President Mon
roe is directed to the attainment of OBJ
iects which most Englishmen would
agree to as salutary, it isimpossibleto ad-
NIT that they have been lnscribed by any
adequate authority in the code of inter-
national law"
Again be says: "They (Her Majesty's
government) fully concur with the view
which President Monroe apparently en-
tertained: that any disturbance of exist
ing territorial distribution Ia that hemis-
phere by any fresh acquisitions on the
part of any European state would be q
highly inexpedient change"
ATIONs.
In the belief that the doctrine for
which We contend was clear and definite; |;
that IL was founded upon substantial con-
siderations and involved our safety and
welfare; that it was fully applicable to
our present conditions and to the state
of the worlds progress, and that 1t was
directly related to the pending contro-
versy, and without any conviction as to
the final merits of the dispute, but anx-
ous to learn in satisfactory and conclu-
sive manner whether Great Britain
sought, under the boundary claim, to az
tend her possessions on this continent
without right, or whether she merely
sought the possession of territory fairly
included within her lines Of ownership,
this government proposed to the govern
ment OF Great Britain resort to arbitra-
ton as the proper means Of settling the
question to the end that q vexatious boun-
Diary dispute between two countries might
be determined, and our exact standing and
relation in respect to the controversy
might be made clear.
1t will be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted that this proposition
has been declined by the British govern
ment, upon grounds which, under the
circumstances, seem to me to be far from
satisfactory.
It is deeply disappointing that such an
appeal, actuated by the most friendly
feelings toward both nations directly
concerned, addressed to the sense Of JUS
tice and to the magnanimity of one of the
great powers of the world, and touching
It's relations to one comparatively weak
and small, should have produced no bet
ter results.
The course to be pursued by this gov
ernment, in view of the present condition,
does not appear to admit of serious
doubt.
Having labored faithfully for many
years to induce Great Britain to submit
this dispute to i'm partial arbitration, and
having been now finally apprized of her
refusal to do so, nothing remains but to
accept the situation, to recognized its
plain requirements and deal with them
accordingly.
Great Britain's present proposition has
never thus far been regarded as admis-
sible BY Venezuela, though any adjust
ment Of the boundary which that country
may deem for her advantage and may en-