The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-03-27
DIPLOMATIC SENSATION.
A Cabinet Meeting in Washington to Con-
slider the Situation,


| WASHINGTON, March 20.-The pros
pect Of serious complications which
threaten the United States through
probable European encroachment on
Venezuela and Nicaragua hasassumeda a
phase of such danger to the principle
laid down in the Monroe doctrine that
a special cabinet conference was held
at the White House this afternoon to
consider the subject. There is no
doubt whatever that these subjects are
considered by the President and Sec
retary Gresham as of much greater i'm
importance to this country than the
Alliance incident or the recall of Min
ister Thurston, and must be handled
with unusual delicacy and with the
knowledge that misstep may plunge
the Government into embarrassing G
complications with not one but sever,
al of the principal European nations.
The Conference was attended by
the President. Secretary Gresham,
Secretary Carlisle, Attorney General
Olney and Secretary Lamont. 1t last,
ed several hours, but Mr.. Lamont
Withdrew after a brief attendance.
Mr.. Gresham took with him to the
White House the official copies OF
much Of the recent correspondence on
both the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan
situations, and he remained with Mr..
Cleveland sometime after his col
leagues had left. 1t cannot be learned
whether any additional information in
the matter reached the State depart.
ment today, but it is said that Mr.. Bay
ard has failed to arrange the Mosquito
troubles with the British Cove 'nment
in matter satisfactory to the United
States.
Great Britains ultimatum to Mica
ragua demanding an indemnity forthe
expulsion of Mr.. Hatch, the British
consular agent, from Bluefelds, and
the report that British warship is on
her way to enforce the demand, is the
--latest known serious phase. Of the diff
culties growing out of the Bluefelds
affair, and as action by this Govern
ment may involve new construction
of the Monroe doctrine, it can be seen
how slowly and carefully the Presi-
dent and his advisers are obliged to
feel their way to prevent any possibil-
ity of blunder, or to neglect any" adj
vantage that might weaken the politi-
cal censorship which the United States
Government holds over the South
American and Central American Re
publics.
In the Venezuelan affair the United
States Government finds itself opposed
to such strong adversaries as Great
Britain, France and Germany, with
Belgium as an incidental factor. The
settlement of the claim of Great Britain
to certain Venezuelan territory is the
main cause for alarm, and to this is
added the prospect that Germany will
send warships to collects large amount
of money guaranteed German con-
tractors for the construction of the
Central Venezuela Railroad. France
and Belgium have common ground
for action disturbing to the peace of
the little South American Republic,
namely: The expulsion of the French
and Belgian ministers from that coun-
try. Both Governments have protest
ed against the expulsion, and France
will send naval vessel to take their
ENJOYS home.
The Monroe doctrine and its ramif-
cations contain ample authority, it is
said. for the United States to display
an active interest in the threatening
attitude of Great Britain and Germany
and while the probable action Of
France and Belgium does not seeming
ly come within the scope of the doc
trine, it is understood to be the belief
of the Government that all four of the
Powers involved will join issue in op-
position to the United States to- secure
their several ends, and such amalga-
nation is likely to beget a desire on
the part of all to extend their domin-
ions.
The conference at the White House
today was necessarily of a strictly Sc
cret character, but it is learned tonight
on good authority that no definite ac-
tion was agreed on.