The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-18
TEXT OF THE MESSAGE.
A Commission 10 Inquire Into the
boundary suggested.


Washington, Dec. 17.-President CIeve-
land sent to congress to-day the vene-
zuelan correspondence, accompanied by
the following significant message:
To the Congress-In my annual mes
sage addressed to the congress on the
Sd inst. l called attention to the pending
boundary controversy between Great
Britain and the republic of Venezuela,
and recited the substance of a repre-
sentation made by this government to her
Brittanic majesty's government suggest
ing reasons why such dispute should be
submitted to arbitration for settlement,
and inquiring whether it would be so
submitted.
The answer of the British government
which was then awaited has since been
received and together with the dispatch
to which it is a reply is hereto appended.
Such reply is embodied in two commu-
nications addressed by the British prime
minister to Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British ambassador at this capital 1t
will be seen that one OF these commu-
nications is devoted exclusively to obser-
vations upon the Monroe doctrine, and
claims that in the present instance new
and strange extension and development Of
this doctrine is insisted on by the United
States, that the reasons justifying an
appeal to the doctrine enunciated by Pres
ident Monroe are generally inapplfcable
to the state of things in which we live
AT the present day and especially in
applicable to a controversy involving the
boundary line between Great Britain and
Venezuela"
Without attempting an extended argu-
ment in reply to these positions II may
not be amiss TO suggest that the doctrine
upon which we stand is strong and sound
because it's enforcement is important to
our peace and safety as nation, and is
essential TO the integrity of our free in
stitutiOns and the tranquil maintenance Of
our distinctive form of government. 1t was
intended to apply to every stage in our
national life and cannot become obsolete
while our republic endures. II the bal
cause for Jealous anxiety among
the governments of the old world and
subject for our absolute non-interference
none the less is an observance Of the
Monroe doctrine of vital concern to our
people and their government.
Assuming, therefore, that we may prob
ably insist upon this doctrine without
regard to the state of things in which
we live" or any changed conditions here
or elsew here, it is not apparent why its
application may not be invoked in the
present controversy.
If a European power, by extension Of it's
boundaries takes possession Of the terri
tory of one Of our neighbOring republics
against its VIII and In derogation Of its
rights, fl is difficult TO see why to that
extent. such European power does not
thereby attempt TO extend its system Of
government 70 that portion Of this conti-
nent which IS thus taken. This IS the pre-
else action, which President Monroe de-
clared to be dangerous 10 our peace and
safety" and II can make no difference
whether the European system IS extended
By an absence Of frontier or otherwise
II is also suggested ~ the British reply
that we should not seek 70 apply the Mon
roe doctrine 20 the pending dispute be-
cause II does not embody any principle Of
International law, which IS founded on the
general consent 81 nations" ard that mo
Ffafcsman however eminent and no ma
ton. however powerful, are competent 10
insert into the code II International law
"a novel principle which was never roc0n-
uized before. and which haa NOT since
been accepted ~ the government Of any
other country"
Practically the principle for which We
contend has peculiar q nof exclusive re-
lcontlaaea o. F.fsh Psge)