Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26
Great Britain Has Not Answered
Mr.. 0lney's Note.
SALISBURY MAY BACK DOWN
The Whole Correspondence to Be
Referred to Congress.
CLEV AND AND OLN EY

ezuelan question will reach a elimination
before .the meeting of Congress. No reply
from Great Britain to Mr.. Olney's note had
been received this morning, though it is ex-
pected at any time. The receipt of the
note was formally acknowledged on its
delivery, with the statement that reply
would be sent as early as consistent with
the Importance of the question. The Lon
don papers announce that the reply is to
be delivered to Mr.. Bayard in day or two
1t is not improbable that 1t will be de-
livered to him before Wednesday. 1t is
thought that he will cable brief synop-
sis and send the full reply by mail. No
action would then be taken on it before the
reply in full had been received. Until then
no crisis can be reached.
The Situation Threatening.
The situation is extremely threatening,
but this threatening aspect is due to the
= assumption based upon the selni-ofiicial
declarations of the London press TO
what the attitude CT Lord Salisbury is
The State Department does not, however,
assume that the reply will be unsatisfac-
tory. On the contrary, it is their business
to assume. since the position of this coun-
try is proper one, that Lord Salisbury
will recognize it's propriety and accommo-
date himself to it.
No Development Pending the Reply.
But pending the reply there can be abso-
lutely no official development in the case.
Nor is there any occasion for cabinet dis
cusson of the question, unless a matter
of speculation members Of the cabinet and
the President want to talk over the matter.
The time for cabinet conference was before
the letter was sent to Mr.. Bayard, and
will come again when Lord Salisbury'S re-
ply is received.
Cleveland and Olney.
In the same way talk of disagreement
between the President and Mr.. Olney is
the widest sort of romancing. The time
has either passed or has not come when
such a disagreement could develope. 1t
might have occurred when the letter was
sent to Mr.. Bayard. If it had Mr.. Olney
would not low be in the cabinet. 1t may
occur when the reply of Lord Salisbury is
received. and the time comes for us to take
action There is indication, however
that Mr.. Cleveland is not as much in earn
est as is Mr.. Olney, and that he will not
sustain his Secretary Of State. Quite the
contrary, in fact. is true at this time.
The matter is too serious to have been
entered upon blindly or without due consid-
Grafton.
No Ultimntum.
1t has been truthfuly stated that no ulti-
matum has been sent to England. But the
position of the United States is just as
firmly fixed as if there had. 1t is that we
will not permit the occupancy by force by
Great Britain of the territory claimed by
Venezuela; that We will not permit en-
croachment without right upon territory on
this continent.
How serious the situation is depends upon
Great Britain. She may refuse to arbitrate
and at the same time refrain from any ag
gressive move in the disputed territory,
even withdraw her police guards from the
advanced position tney occupy, while at
the same time declining to Officially"
recognize the force of the Monroe doctrine.
If she does this the question may drag on
for long while without settlement and no
conflict come.
May Deny the Monroe Doctrine.
She may deny the Monroe doctrine, and
follow this by trying to enforce her claim
upon the disputed territory. This latter
course is indicated in the utterances of the
London press, supposed to be inspired. If
1t is followed there is grave danger that
a conflict will be brought about between
Great Britain and the United States. and
If that occurs 1t will involve other Euro
pean nations on both sides. But even this
state of affairs will not throw us into war
within the next thirty days or sixty, or
within any other definite time. When the
reply from Lord Salisbury has been re-
ceived the action of the administration will
be governed by the nature of that reply.
If 1T is unsatisfactory that fact will be
communicated to Lord Salisbury, and our
position be restated in stronger terms than
before.
No War Without Congressional Action
But the country will not be thrown into
war without Congress being consulted. 1t
is known to be the intention of the admin
istraton to maintain the firm position that
has been assumed and TO refer the whole
matter in that shape to Congress soon
as possible after 1t meets A special mes
sage is expected to be sent to Congress at
the regular session, which will probably be
In time enough, transmitting all the corre-
spondence in the case, including Lord
Salisbury's letter, which must be received
before that time. Congress will then be
expected to direct the administration. But
before that the attitude of the administra-
ton will have been fully defined, and it
will be a question of whether or not Con-
sress approves of it. If Salisbury should
acknowledge the Monroe doctrine or with
draw the provocation of the discussion that
would. of course. settle the matter.
Gossip In Diplomatic Circles.
The action of the British Guiana au-
thorities in rejecting, by vote of 10 T. 8.
the policy urged by British Minister Cham
berlain. for arming the Venezuelan from
tier With Maxim guns, as exclusively told
in Asst ciated Press dispatches, eAcites
much interest In official and diplomatic
circles 1t is said to be mcst unusual
course for the colonial government to re-
ject the advice of the home government
ON questions of important public policy
1t appears also. that following the ad-
Wise dCtlol III Guiana the London
foreign office cabled directions to Sir
Charles Lees. governor general of the col
ony, to return to London. 1t is stated
here that this was equivalent to a recall,
ar d the belief is expressed that it indi-
Gates the di5approval of the London au-
thorities in the inability of the governor
general to carry out the policy laid down
by Minister Chamberlain
Tile position Of governor general is one of
sucn dignity that it is not usual to summon
MN TO London merely for consultation al
though this happened when the Venezuela
question reached critical stage in 1Sl4
Among those in e position to be best in
formed the belief is quite positive that Sir
thailes has been recalled and that the ac-
ton oil the Guiana council is the direct
cause OF it. The governor general is now
on ms way from Demerara to London.
The British uItmatum has not vet
reached Caracas The understanding here
is that it was forwarded from London to
!'crin and thence by steamer from HAM
burg to LaGuayra. The trip would take
Two to three weeks, that its receipt in
venezuela is anticipated within the next
few layS.