Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-19
The Venezuelan Controversy.

enforcin q the foreign policy but il rarely
undertak es TO undo what preceding
administration may have done and never
recedes an inch from aggressions aud
claims upon territory until actually COM
| PEELED to do so. Agreeable 10 all this.
Lord Sallsbury's administration Is
endeavoring to follow the policy Of
| predecessors In extending British lines
| into Vepez1elan territory In order to
bring the boundary of English Guiana uI
to the river Orinoco and thus command
the vast trade which that great river
must open I'D in the country to the north
Of the Amazon.
| 1t was 70 have been expected that Eng
land would deny that the United states
fs In any wsy concerned in this territorial
grab. Tho English press has noticeably
of late attempted to discredit the Monroe
doctrine. to cast ridicule upon it, In view
of her numerous~ schemes, her manifest
desire to share in the Isthmian canal, her
efforts to extend her boundaries onto the
territory OF Alaska, this Is not sur
prising. 1t would, however, be more
surprising should the attempt succeed
II the territory which England and Ven
ezucla are disputing over really belongs 10
the latter the United States government
cannot afford to ignore the fact Inc
recent extension of American interests IN
the disputed territory renders the ques-
ton Of more general interest but does not
add TO the obligations upon this country
TO aid Venezuela In resisting the terri
torial aggrcssions of foreign power. 1t
appears to be conceded that Secretary
Olney has informed Minister Bayard that
this government is convinced the attitude
of England upon the Venezuelan CON
troyersy is hostile to the spirit of the
Monroe doctrine; that England received
her title to territory In Guinea from Hol
land In 1914; that for century and three
quarters the Essequibo was recognized as
the rightful boundary between the old
DpdulSi anu PcooOooicIS, oboN
there have been no concessions since 1914 !;
that In 1910 Venezuela succeeded to the
title held by Spain. Secretary Olney
could do no less and do his duty. His
advice to Minister Bayard having been
made known to Lord Salisbury the Lon
don Times, presumably voicing Salisbury,
says:
sit Is begging the question, to assume
that the British claim is for fresh terri
tory. The British case rests wholly upon
tho vindication of our original right
The British contention Is that As British
Guinea became British territory it extends
over the whole area POSSESSED by Holland
Every year adds to the value of settle
ment in the colony within the Schom-
burgk line 1t is no longer possible to
admit any question of curtailInent of
British jurisdiction beyond that line
We arc now willing to submit the frontier
question to arbitration but a few years
hence it may be equally impossible to
admit such question anywhere within
the limits which we believe to be right
fully ours.
Now If England's rights in that terri
tory are indisputable why is she willing
to arbltratc part of them and not the
others? If the Schomburgk line be incon-
testable why has England endeavored to
acquire territory beyond it, and which
assumed acquisition she is willing to
arbitrate? When boundary lines are IL
dispute, are indistinct they are most
fitting subjects for arbitration, and when
the United States urges that this contro-
versy which has existed for years, be sub
mitted to arbitration. England is insolcnt
enough to assert that it is none of the
United States business unless our gov
crnmcnt assumes protectorate over
Venezuela. The absurdity and insolence
of this is the more noticeable when it is
recalled that Great Britain herself in
Spired the Monroe doctrine fearing the
aggressions of the "holy alliance and
believing that it would be for her interest
to have other foreign powers forbidden tc
acquire territory IN tle Americas. Ibis
policy, announced by Monroe, distinctly
states that no European powers can Eek
tend their political system to any portion
of either (American) continent without
endangering our peace and happiness. .
1t also declared that it would be impos
Siblc for this country to behold any such
interpositiop, in any form, with indiffer
ence.
II England as the Times asserts is only
maintaining her rights and those rights
are beyond dispute, that government
should surely be able to establish them
before any arbitration commission and
thus terminate a controversy that has
existed for more than half century. II
is also worthy of notice that the Times
asserts that while England is willing tc
submit all territory beyond the Schom
burgk line to arbitration she will not Ions
continue to offer this concession. This
illustrates the policy pursued by Great
Britain throughout this controversy
zach time that the dispute has beer