New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
BY cABLR TO THR TRIBUNE,
fcopyrtgat. 1890: By IN, Tribune Assoeianon)

ERs on THE SUBJECT.
tBY THH TRIBUNE,
fcopyrfsat 1890: BY The Tribune AssoeianonD
London. Dec 19.-President Cleveland's mes
sage still engrOsses public attention in Eng
land. 10 the exclusion Of the Eastern ques
tion and everything else. Coming yesterday
like thunderbolt from a clear sky, 1t first
stunned then exasperated every English reader
Nobody knew the facts about the Venezuela
boundary dispute; nobody understood the Mon
Doctrine: but every body resented the Presi-
dents (so-styled) unfrendly and menacing lam
guage and condemned wanton affront MS
proposal that. since Lord Salisbury refused to
arbitrate the question in dispute, the Ameri-
can Government should appoint commission
to find out where the boundary really was.
John Bull has not been so angry in many
a year ss he was yesterday when he ignored
completely the fact that Lord Salisbury with
Mr.. Chamberlain behind him. had sent an In
tensely irritating reply TO Secretary Olneys dis
patch, and was filled with indignation that any
Power on earth should assume to dictate the
frontier Of the British Empire under menace OF
war. He is still angry to-day. but he Is less be-
wildered than he was and more disposed to keep
his temper and find out what 1t is that has
aroused American resentment The Times
remarks: 1T has been said, and 1T Is
the only exception taken to Lord Salisburys
attitude, that. having repudiated the applica-
bity Of the Monroe Doctrine. he ought not to
have run the risk Of ruf!ing American suscepu-
bities by discussing It,
That Is an admission that Lord Salisbury has
done something to provoke what had previously
been regarded as unjustfable assault upon
England. When his reply first read, under
pressure Of excitement. t seemed to English
| men a mastery presentation OF their case,
| couched In diplomatic language markedly In con-
trast with the Presidents peremptory and ag-
gressve tone. When more carefully examined,
! II proves to be a contemptuous denial that the
| Monroe Doctrine. accepted canon Of American
| diplomacy had any bearing the Venezuela
| case or any force as international law. or had
ever appeared in practical negotiations.
| Englishmen, while complaining that Americans
do not realize the monstrous and insulting char
acter OF the demand which has been preferred in
| their name" do not themselves appreciate the
extent to which Lord Salisbury has provoked
! irritation and resentment. Meanwhile, the
Prime Minister has the unanimous sup
/ port of the London and provincial press,
which deplore the tone of the Presidents message
| and maintain that the attempt to force the con-
| clusions OF an American commission down the
/ throat OF England by threat Is OF must be re-
/
sisted to the last gasp.
The news that the House had passed APP
| proprlation for the Commission. and that the
President was supported by the press of both
parties with a few exceptions. has had a sobering
effect upon the journalists. but there ara no
signs Of any wavering from. the English position
that frontier dictated by ar American commits
sion ls Impossible and preposterous Columns Of
quotations from the French. German and Aus
trian press are published. showing that European
feeling is strongly against Mr.. Cleveland's meth
cd Of asserting and applying the Monroe Doctrine,
II not against the principle itself.
The opinion of the French press. from which
they had apparently expected hostility. is
ceived with unconceaed satisfaction by the Eng
sh journals Assuming that all Europe is
with them the English anxiousy awaiting
signs OF a break In the public opinion OF
America and make the most of the opposition
TO Mr. Clevelands policy shown by three
or four journals OF NewYork and Boston
They also follow cues given by some New
York correspondents, that President Cleve-
land Is seeking TO provide the defeated
and demoralized Democracy with new
campaign issue, and to force his own re-
nomination. That is now the accepted view In
England One hears IL on every side. The
Presidential canvass has opened. and both par
ties are bidding FOR the Jingo support; they are
working up the Irish vote; politicians are play
ing fast and loose with issues Of peace and war
II Is the American game of bluff for political
purposes"
A. the same time the seriousness of the
situation is everywhere recognized, and leader
writer's weigh their words under a sense Of re-
sponsibility and the expressed conviction that
war between the two great branches OF the
Erglsh-snealung race Is a contingency too
horrible 10 be contemplated. The assumption
Of The Tribune that there will be no war Is
generally accepted here
The stock market, for two days, while weak
and depressed, has not Indicated anything IKE
a war panic the main feature being TO sell
American securities. which will bring over more
gold The wheat markets In London Liverpool
and Glasgow have not yet been seriously al
fected II war were considered imminent or
even probable there would be a sharp rise In
grain but nothing of this kind has yet occurred
Whatever happens, the English are now in
fair way to learn something about the Nenez-
uela question. The journals bristle with maps
Of the disputed territory historical accounts Of
the troublesome quotations from Dutch treaties
and condensed reviews Of the diplomatic corre-
spondence. The maps would be more valuable
II the portion Of the territory really claimed by
Venezuela were marked as disputed" instead
OF being included In British Guiana. The litera-
ture on the subject would be more instructive
IL il were not strongly colored 10 meet the
exigencies OF English argument But readers
are making progress; they have already learned
that the Schomburgk line, which is supposed to
settle everything. was drawn ex-parte by
British official without consent Of Venezuela;
they are also coming into possession OF facts
about various attempts to arbitrate the ques-
ton. Many journals find It necessary to ex-
plain that England does not regard the Venez-
uelan question unsulted to arbitration, and
that Lord Salisbury has noe refused outright
this method of settlement. but they leave 1t
mystery why Secretary Olney's overtures were