The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-04
En- ba ssador Bayard Notified TINT the
Venezuelan Boundary Dispute
Is Not Our Concern.
NEW POSTMASTER GENERAL
HON. W. L. WILSON SWORN IN IN
PLACE OF MIR. w. S. BIssELL.
Latter Presented with Commendatory
Resolutions from Letter Carriers
-Income-Tax Receipts Large.

WASHINGTON, April 3.--There is reason
to believe that the British government has
given our ambassador, Mr.. Bayard, to un-
derstand. in response to his representations
in the Venezuelan boundary matter, and
his suggestion that it be submitted to ar
bitration, that it must persist in regarding
the subject as one in which only Great
Britain and Venezuela are concerned. OF
course, the idea was set out very diplomat
ically and courteously, so as to avoid giving
offense, as far as possible, while still maxi
ing it plain that the United States could
not be regarded as having any proper in
terest in the matter So, as it stands, the
British government still insists on its abso-
lutte title and right to occupy all the terri
tory to the eastward of the Shomberg line,
while protesting willingness to submit to
arbitration its claims to the lands lying
west of that line. This was the offer made
to Venezuela years ago, and it has not been
modified in any respects since, notwith-
standing Mr. Bayards efforts. 1t has been
intimated that the United states might ac-
qure right to intervene in behalf of Ven-
ezuela by declaring a protectorate over the
country with the assent of its people, and
behind this suggestion is at least one of the
great European powers, who would be glad
to have it's relations with the disturbed
placed on a stable basis So that it might
look to some thoroughly responsible, highly
civilized government to insure the perma-
nence of trade and prevent frequent revolu-
tions But to concede the necessity for
such a protectorate prerequisite to in
terfering to prevent the acquisition of
American territory by a European power
would amount to renunciation of the
Monroe doctrine by the United States, and
this cannot be contemplated by the admin
istration. There are indications that the
British Foreign Office officials are willing
to discuss this feature of the case with Mr..
Bayard at length, and so the negotiations
may drag along for many months unless a
collision occurs between the British and
Venezuelan forces in the disputed territory
or the new Minnesota company forces an
issue by beginning operations under the
large concession it has obtained from Ven
ezuela of lands in that section.
1t is apparent that the progress of Mr..
Bayard's efforts is being watched with
intense interests by all of the diplomatic
representatives ofsafiie South and Central
American countries stationed IN Washing
ton for they realize that the issue may be
of vital Importance to ali of them in the
future They had expected that the admin
istration would be called on to assume a
definite position in respect to the extent it
would permit European powers to inter-
fere in the affairs of the American repub-
lies in the recent San Dominican affair,
but the United States enabled to avoid
the issue, owing to concessions on the part
of France, resulting in amicable adjust
ment of her differences with the Donin-
leans One of these diplomatic representa-
tives, in speaking this subject. remarked
were staggering under foreign debts, and
were unable longer to meet their obliga-
tions. They could not meet the interest on
these debts, much less could they pay off
the principal, owing to the terrible CONNER
cial depression Some of these countries
had defaulted their interest on foreign
debts, and in others, notably Costa Rica,
it was now proposed to repudiate at least
half of the debt The question confronting
these countries is whether the United States
will stand by and permit the creditor ma
tions of Europe to collect these debts by
force. Meanwhile, to strengthen their claim
for protection on the United States there
is in progress among the smaller and weak
er republics a movement to entangle their
interests with our own, so as to make it a
matter of deep concern to our people should
any European power attack them The first
lHulcdtlOHS Ol tfllS pOIlCy WAS seen IN the
claim of San Domingo to exemption from
the French demand on her revenues, on the
ground that these had all been farmed out
to an American corporation. which would
be ruined by compliance with the French
demand Then there is the recent conces-
sion made to an American corporation by
Venezuela to force the United States into
the issue between her and Great Britain
by motives of direct self-interest, and in
other countries there has been adopted a
policy of farming out to syndicates certain
privileges, such as the right to import to-
bacco and opium and the collection of Gus
tom duties.
Venezuelan Ministry for Peace.
ROME. April 3.-Count Magliano who
was sent to Venezuela by the Italian gov
ernment has arrived at Caracas, where he
has had conference with the Venezuelan
government respecting the European claims
The Count has cabled the italian govern
ment that the new Venezuelan Ministry
appears to be desirous of pacific solution
of the incident between Venezuela and
France and Belgium, arising from the COM
ments of the representatives of the latter
two countries on Venezuela's treatment of
foreign claims.
MIR. BISSELL OUT OF OFFICE.