St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-07
GREAT BRITAIN EVADING THE
ISSUE AND PURSUING A POL
ICY OF DELAY.
RECEIPT OF HER ANSWER
CONGRESSMEN DISCUSS THE PO-
SITION OF THE VENEZUE-
Ian AFFAIR.
HOW TO STRIKE AT ENGLAND.
Bring Her Ministers to Time
in Quick Order.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Lord
Salisbury's reply to Secretary Olney's
letter requesting a final and definite
statement of Great Britain's pur-
poses concerning Venezuela is in
Washington, having been delivered
to Sir Julian Pauncefote, the Brit
lSh ambassador, tonight. The answer
was brought to Washington by Don
aldson, the special messenger of the
embassy, who makes regular trips to
New York for the purpose of carry
ing the official mail to and from
Washington. Donaldson received
the reply from the stewards of the
steamship Britannia, on which it ar
rived at New York at o'clock this
morning. Donaldson left immediate
ly for Washington. The greatest
interest centers here as to the nature
of the reply which Lord Salisbury
has made to the American secretary
Of state. Ambassador Pauncefote
said tonight that Lord Salisbury's
letter would be presented to Sec
retary Olney tomorrow.
EVASIVE ANSWER.
There was pretty general dis
cussion of Venezuelan affairs
among the members of the
house today. The general opin-
ion among those who will have
the conduct of foreign affairs in
charge in the house is that Lord
Salisbury's reply will be >, diplo-
matte evasion of the main issue; that
it will be couched in the most
friendly terms, and while expressing
willingness to arbitrate as to a
portion of the disputed territory, will
deny the right of the United States
to territory, the ownership of which
Great Britain claims is hers beyond
dispute. In other words, it is be-
lieved that Great Britain's reply will
temporize with the subject and SIM
ply open the way for further CORE
spondence.
"a glance at the correspondence"
said a prominent Republican MEM
Der today, will show that this has
been Engalnd's position and policy
for fifty years. She will seem to
yield something, but she will stake
off a line beyond which she will not
go in the matter of arbitration. That
was Lord Granville's policy. 1t will
be Lord Salisbury's. Though Sails
bury is imperious by inclination, lie
will be exceedingly cautious. The
considerations involved in an open
breach with England, or anything
approaching an open breach, are
gigantic. Credits would be imme-
diately shaken. The question of the
tariff is infinitely of more Importance
to Great Britain than the ownership
of few gold mines in Venezuela.
Above all things, depend upon it,
that England will not by any act Of
hers aggravate an anti-English feel
ing in this country, or give cause,
if the most delicate arts of diplomacy
can prevent it, for a war agitation
here
WHAT SHE BREADS MOST.
England breads unfavorable
tariff legislation. She knows that the
first result of a bitter anti-English
feeling would be retaliation upon her
through a radical revision of the
tariff. A tariff induced by hostility
to England, growing out of England's
encroachments in this hemisphere
which had aroused the resentment of
the American people, would send
100000 Englishmen to bed without
their suppers. Such material con-
siderations England never overlooks.
war of 1872"
While it is true that the admins
tration is aware that Lord Sails
bury's reply to Secretary Olney's
note of July last, touching the Ven
ezuelan boundary dispute, is adverse
to the proposition to arbitrate the
title to the lands lying westward of
the Schomberg line, the fact that the
reply itself has only now reached
Washington precludes the idea of any
speedy action by our government.
The absence of the president
from Washington will operate
to delay proceedings by the
state department, for Secretary Oh
ney would not feel justified in max
ing forward movement at this stage
of the case, which is now commonly
regarded as at least approaching a
critical point, without advising fully
with the president. AS the latter has
promised congress to communicate
in a special message the nature of
Lord Salisbury's reply, further delay
may be caused by the preparation of
this message, so on the whole it is
improbable that the next step can
be taken before the latter part of the
present month, if so early.