St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-05
BY FORCE OF ARMS
Venezuela Will, if Necessary,
Assert Her Rights on the
Orinoco.
AGGREssI0Ns OF BRITAIN
Nav Lead to a Clash in Which
the South Americans
Hope to
AGGREssI0Ns OF BRITAIN
EMBROIL UNITED STATES.
Their Faith Is in the Monroe
Doctrine and Those Con-
eeSsiOns.

WASHINGTON, April T. = IT Is
stated by persons in a position to
speak with authority that as soon as
Venezuela is convinced Great Britain
has finally decided not to arbitrate or
settle the boundary dispute as sug-
gested by the United States, through
Ambassador Bayard, the Southern
republic will regretfully, but reso-
lutely, resort to what she regards
as her only recourse, ?, resort to
force. Venezuela fully recognizes the
great military strength of Great
Britain, but it is declared that her
people are ready to see their homes
and their cities desolated and land
in ashes rather than submit to what
they regard as national diShonor. 1t
is said that the contention with
Great Britain is not SO much one
of territory as of the sentiment and
honor involved. So firmly impressed
have the people become with this
that opinion is expressed that they
would rather see their country go
out of existence than pass into the
practical control of foreign pow
err.
Little doubt is felt under these cir
cumstances that Venezuela will
FORCIBLY ASSERT
her rights to the disputed Orinoco
territory as soon as Great Britain's
rejection of settlement is definitely
communicated. This territory ex-
tends about $50 miles along the
coast, running back thirty-five miles
to what is known as the Schomberg
line. Through the middle of this
strip runs the Orinoco river COM
handing the commerce of it to the
interior of South America. Great
Britain is already we'll intrenched
there, with a naval station at the
mouth of the river.
The interest of the United States
in the controversy has progressed
steadilyin recent days. 1t began with
the friendly suggestion through Mr..
Bayard, and a request from congress
that Great Britain submit the mat
ter to arbitration. The United States
squadron, under Admiral Meade,
was accorded an ovation at Venezu-
elan ports quite recently, and steps
were taken to commemorate the
Monroe doctrine by erecting a stat
ute to President Monroe at the cap
ital of Venezuela. Within recent
days, Venezuela has granted large,
concessions in the Orinoco country
to citizens of the United States. A
strong hope seems to be entertained
on the part of Venezuela that the
United States will not stand idly by
If a resort to force is made. 1t is
understood that the position of Great
Britain in declining the suggestion
OF the United States for the settle
ment of the trouble with Venezuela
is substantially as follows:
BRITAIN'S SNUB.
First-Great Britain takes the DO
sitlon that the question of arbitra-
ton was once before proposed by
Venezuela. AT that time the foreign
Office gave the subject most careful
consideration, and then submitted a
reply embodying a proposition to
arbitrate certain definite subjects of
controversy. To this proposition
Venezuela has never made a reply
either accepting or rejecting the
proposed basis of arbitration. Under
these circumstances it is not desir-
able to proceed to a second PROPOSE
ton of arbitration, when the first
remains unanswered.
Second-In any event there are
certain portions of the territory to
which Venezuela lays claim which
under no circumstances will tie made
the subject of arbitration, as thew
are recognized, and are not, there
fore, subjects on which the Judgment
OF arbitrators could be invoked.
Third-The subject matter is one
between Great Britain and Venezu-
ella, so that the good offices of the
United States are not regarded as
essential to settlement, as it is
not understood that the United
States has assumed a protectorate
over Venezuela, or has other inter
ests than that of friendly power.