Evening star., 1895-11-02
He Talks Upon Foreign Relations Of
This Government.
QUESTIONS TO COME BEFORE CONGRESS
The Venezuelan Boundary Line and
Cuban independence.
GREAT BRITAN'S POLICY


Morgan EXPRESSED opiricns on number of
| the questions concerning the foreign rela-
tionS of the United States that are likely to
| receive important actor at the hands of
| Congress during the coming session.
How do you 'egard the proposition that
comes from England for the joint owner
| ship of the Nicaragua canal by Great Bri-
| tain and the United States?' Mr.. Morgan
| was asked.
THAT proposition" he replied, sis not
new 1t is the same end that Great Britain
sought in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of
| 1850 The United States could never be
| gotten to enter into such an arrangement.
Gen. Grant saw the Importance of the
United States having entire control of the
| canal. He declared that this was to be ar
American canal. under American control.
| ard since that time American statesmen
and the American people have never been
| willing to participate with Great Britain
| in the control of the Nicaragua canal.
| Great Britain has the SueZ canal absolute
| Nicaragua canal she will belt the world
| with her commercial influence more COM
| pletely than she does now with Ter naval
end military powers"
| do, you regard Great Britain's methods
| of asserting her territorial claims on this
continent, especially in Venezuela, well
| founded?" the reporter inquired.
Violations of international Law.
| I'm our discussion over the Venezuelan
| boundary question some very important
| and interesting facts are brought out.
When Lord Salisbury discussed the ques-
ton of boundaries some years ago, he
stated the basis of the British claim to
the country which lies west and south
| of the EssiqLito river, and went on to
! mention some treaties with Holland and
Spain, and then Lord Salisbury stated that
Great Britain had rights acquired by treaty
| Ixxyifh Tnd frih wi ia
| nor did he give the treaties or their con-
| tents. For the last three-quarters of
| century Great Britain has been forming
whenever she could little by-arrangementS
| with Indian tribes that had chieftains and
| were regularly constituted into tribes, such
| as many of the Indians within our own ter
| ritory. 1t was in that way that she recos-
nized the Mosquito king. She acknowl-
| edged the sovereignty of this Indian chief.
| Now, such treaties with such people are
made right in the teeth of the well-under-
| stood and well-accepted doctrine of Great
| Britain, Germany. France, Spain and all
| the American states. which is that when
country has acquiI ed by conquest or dis
| covery any territory, the Indian tribes
| found therein are considered as occupants
| at will of the sovereign, and are not re-
| garded nations having sovereignty, such
| sovereignty iLuring to the nations that dis
| covered or conquered the territory. rec
| ognition of the sovereignty of such Indian
| tribes has been regarded as a breach of the
| International rights of other nations. So
|
have been violations of the clear principles
of International law.
Claims Not Recognized.
| For this reason any claims of Great
| Britain within Venezuela, based upon pri-
| vate treaties with Indian chiefs. are of no
| avail and should not be recognized as being
| in conformity with international law.
think Great Britain is prepared now to ad-
| just that Venezuelan boundary question on
<l,f "A t,x-S ,hnr,n
| burgh, who was sent out by the Geographical
| Society of London for the purpose of de-
| marking boundary there. When that line
| was established the British colon;sts COM
menced moving out to it and making set
| Elements and particularly taking up gold
| claims, and Venezuela, in her weakness has
been compelled to stand by and see that
! course pursued until Great Britain sets up
| claim similar to that of man who has
occupied for number of years territory
| belonging to some one else.
| Il would suppose that unless Great Britain
moves to the north and westward of the
Schomburgh line 1t is hardly probable that
the United States can be involved in the con-
troversy, but if she is ever involved in such
| a controversy the British government ought
to be compelled to avow or disavow the de-
| pendence of various petty chiefs. England
might go to Alaska and enter into a treaty
| with the chiefs of Indian tribes there with
| as much reason as she could make treaties
! with such chiefs located to the south of us.
Or to bring it nearer home, she might come
| to the United states ana make q treaty with
| the five civilized tribes.
| There are just two things that control the
| British mind in these operations in Vene-
| zuela. The British are not seeking en-
! largement of area for the purpose of agri-
| culture timber cutting any other real
| substantial and valuable industry. The two
| things that attract British attention in Vene-
| zuela are the reported richness of the gold
| mines in the mountains around the Orinoco
| river and the desire to secure occupation Of
| the territory around the mouth of the Orin-
oco river, which is navigable for gunboats
| for 400 miles. In fact, the occupation of that
| river would be the keynote to the control
| of the entire central portion of Venezuela.
The Orinoco river Is one of the most import
| ant commercial factors of the country"
The Case of Cubn.
rs Congress apt to do anything during
the coming session in the interest of Cuba p"
| Mr.. Morgan was asked.
There is so much excitement in the pub
lie mind" he replied, ''over this question
that think that there will be a tremendous
effort made to induce Congress to recognize
| the belligerency of the Cubans. / think the
| conservative and thoughtful men of Con-
| gress will have pretty hard time in keeping
| tins movement in check. Whoever will read
| Gen. Grants message on this subject during
| the former war in Cuba will see there dis
| played, with very marked ability of states
inanship, the true doctrine of recognition Of
| helligerency of these warlike elements in
|
| our part would result in causing our mer-
| chant vessels to be subjected to search, and
that would give great deal of anxiety and
trouble, and there is no doubt that eventual
| ly such a course would result in war be-
tween the United States and Spain. 1t may
| as well be understood that when we recog-
nze the belligerency of the Cubans we
| should draw the sword OF course, If we are
| ready to draw the sword We may do 1t, but
| 1 would prefer that whatever our course is
to be we should make it in distinct
and emphatic manner. We should do it in a
manly and open way, and not by indirection.
How to Acquire the Island.
II believe that If we really desire to own
Cuba-if that is the manifest will of the
American people-we could acquire it with
out going to war about it. For, after all,
Spain must begin to feel that that colony is
more burden than profit. Her pride is
involved, but 1t was equally involved in re-
gard to the vast empire she possessed from
Central America to Patagonia. But when
she found herself bereft of these colonies
she finally recognized their independence
and got on good terms with them. So
think the Spanish statesmen will see that
the holding of Cuba in colonial subjection is