The state herald., 1895-10-11
OLNEY TO SALISBURY
THE MONROE DOCTRINE STILL
LIVES.
England Must submit Her Claims to Ven.
Eueian Territory to Arbitration u
Take tho Consequences.

New York; Oct. A special to the
Herald from Washington says: The
great international question Of the hour
is the Venezuelan boundary dispute.
Secretary Olney has prepared dis
patch to Ambassador Bayard which will
soon bring the matter to an issue. This
dispatch is Of most positive and I'M
equlvocal nature. AS soon as 1t shall
be placed before the British govern
ment, 1t will raise an issue which can
be settled only by the retreat Of one or
the other government. The stand taken
by the United States In this dispatch
is one which involves the Oldest and
most sacred traditions of the govern
ment-the enforcement of the Monroe
doctrine.
Secretary Olney's dispatch is In sub
stance declaration in the most pos
tive language that the United States
will never consent to British occupancy
OF disputed territory in Venezuela, un-
less that nations right thereto is de-
termlned by arbitration. For this
declaration Is substantially the same
as that which was made some months
ago, and to which the British foreign
office replied with the statement that
while England's right to n part of tho
territory in question could be submitted
to arbitration, the right to another part
Is tho region In question could not Do
submitted to such adjudication.
When Great Britain took this ground,
the question which President Cleveland
and his advisers had to decide was
whether the United States was bound
by the Monroe doctrine, and by her
dignity, to insist that all of the terri
tory In dispute should be submitted to
arbitration, or whether by concedlns
England's contention we should yir-
tually abandon the field and leave Vel-
zuela TO fight It out alone. Few more
serious questions have presented them
selves TO an American administration
within recent years.
The decision Of the president and his
cabinet, after careful discussion AMI
palnstaking investigation. is that bold
and consistent policy shall be adopted,
and this policy has been formulated IL
the dispatch which Ambassador Bay.
ard will lay before the British govern
ment as soon as he returns from his
present journey to Scotland.
The dispatch meets England's ra-
jolnder with n reatiirmation OF the prln-
ciple of the original contention express
ed in phrases which leave no posi-
bility of doubt as to the meaning of
the edrnestncss Of the United States.
1t does more. In polite. but firm and
significant words, Secretary Olney de.
clares 1t to be the belief of the United
States government that the territorial
lnt, f.I, Dali La.
In Venezuela are In the nature Of an al
tempt to seize territory on the American
continent to which she has no legal
right. The secretary points out two
horns of the dilemma. leaving Great
Britain to choose which 1t will accept,
1. II the quarrel with Venezuela Is
an ordinary boundary dispute, having
Its origin in faulty descriptions, imper-
feet surveys or other misunderstood
Ing. a refusal TO arbitratc the SAME is
contrary to precedents set by Great
Britain herself, and contrary to the
practice of all civilized nations.
., If. on the other hand. as appears
TO be the ease, and. rs is the belief OF
the president OF the United States, tbs
dispute as to the location of a bound
airy line is mere disguise under which
Great Britain Is attempting by superior
force TO extend her territory In Amer.
lea, this is directly vlolativc OF the Mon.
roe doctrine, and will never be sub
miiicd To ny tho Cpit--S States.
This Is the substance of the dispatch,
which. In all probability. will soon be.
come one of the most famous dispatches
ever sent out from the American State
department. 1t Is direct, positive and
practical application Of the Monroe
doctrine in It's broadcast aspect to the
quarrel between Great Britain and Ven
czuela. 1t commits the United States
10 n position which must be adhered to.