Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-07

Washington, December 6.-LOrd
Salisbury's reply to Secretary Olney'a
letter, requesting a final and definite
statement of Great Britain's purposes
concerning Venezuela is in Washing
ton, having been delivered to Sir Ju-
liam Pauncefote, the British Ambassa-
dor, tonight. The answer was brought
to Washington by Donaldson. the spe-
ciaI messenger of the embassy, who
makes regular trips to New York for
the purpose of carrying the official mail
to and from Washington. Ambassa-
dor Pauncefote said tonight that Lord
Salisbury's letter wCuld presented TO
Secretary Olney tomorrow.
Washington, December 6.-While it
is true. as before stated in the Associa-
ted Press dispatches, that the adminis-
tration is aware that Lord Salisbury's
reply to Secretary Olney's note of July
last touching the Venezuelan boundary
dispute is adverse to the proposition TO
arbitrate the title to the lands lying
westward of the Schomb burg line, the
fact that the reply itself has not yet
reached Washington precludes the idea
of any speedy action by our govern
ment in this matter. When the reply
is received by Sir Julian PauncefOte he
may occupy himself several days at
least in its careful consideration In or
der that he may make sure that he Ia
transmitting to Secretary Olney tho
views OF his government so far as 1t iS
proper for them to be communicated TO
the United States government without
at the same time impartng any portion
of the note that may be framed for his
private guidance. Then the absence Of
the President from Washington would
operate further to delay proceedings
bv the State Department, for Secre-
tary Olney would not feel justified in
making a forward movement at this
stage of the case which Is commonly
now regarded as at least approaching
a crisis.
There was a pretty general discus
sion of Venezuelan affairs among mem
bers of the House to-day. The senerad
opinion among those who will have the
conduct of foreign affairs in charge In
the House is that
LORD SALISBURY'S REPLY
will be a diplomatic evasion OF the main
issue: that il will be couched in the
most friendly terms and while express
ing n willingness to arbitrate as to a
portion of the disputed territory Will
denv the right of the United States to
ask Great Britain TO arbitrate as to
territory the ownership of which Great
Britain claims is hers beyond dispute.
In other words. it is believed that Great
Britain's reply will tempOrize with the
subject and simply open the way tor
further correspondence.
"a glance at the correspondence
said a prominent Republican member
to-day. Twill show that this has been
England's position and policy Tor nrly
years. She will seem 10 yield some
thing but she will stake off a line be-
yond which she VIII not go IN the mat
ter of arbitration. That was Lord
Granville's policy 1t will be Lord Sal
isbury's. Though Salisbury IS imper-
ious by inclination he will be exceeding
ly cautious The considerations in
volved I'm an open breach with England
or anything approaching an open breachi
are gigantic. Credits would be imme-
diately shaken. The question Of the
tariff is infinitely of more importance TO
Great Britain than the ownership Of
few gold mines in Venezuela. Above all
else. you may depend upon it that Eng
land will not by any act Of hers aggra-
vate an anti-English feeling in this
country or give cause, If the mos deli
cate arts of diplomacy can prevent u
a war agitation here. England breads
unfavorable tariff legislation. She
knows that the first result Of bitter
anti-English feeling would be retalia-
ton upon her through radical revision
Of the tariff. A tariff induced by hos
tility to England, growing out Of Eng
lands encroachments in this hem.-
sphere, which had aroused the resent
ment of the American people, would
send 100000 Englishmen TO bed with
out their suppers. Sucn material con-
sideratons England never oyerlook5.
The loss Of our commerce stopped the
war of 1872"
-Cf