The herald., 1895-12-07
OBSTRUCTS THE WAY TO WAR
Diplomacy a Game Requiring Deliberate
Consideration
The Danger Of Error viii Not Be Incurred by
Undue Haste
Saiisbury's nove Is Regarded as Very Clever,
Raising Issues Which Can Scarcely
BE Decided During the Press
ent Generation
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Wnils it is
true, as before stated in the Associated
Press dispatches, that the administration
10 aware that Lord Salisbury's reply to
Secretary Olney's note of July last
touching the Venezuela bound Try dispute
is adverse to the proposition to arbitrate
the title to the lands lying westward OF
the Schomberg iue, the fact that the re-
ply itself has not yet reached Washing
ton prscludes the idea of any speedy
action by our government in this mat.
ter. When tho reply is recelSed by Sir
Julian Paonoefoe he may occupy himself
several days at least in its careful consid
Grafton in order that he may make sure
that he is transmitting to Secretary Oh
nev the views of his government, SO far
as 1t is proper for them to bs com mmuni-
cstcd to the United States without at the
same time imparting any portion Of the
note that may 5s framed f0r his private
guidance. Then the absence of the pres
ident from Washington would operate
furtner to delay proceedings at the state
dcpnrtmnt, for Secretary Olney would
not feel justified in making forward
movement at this stage of the case, which
is now commonly regarded as at least
approaching critical point, without
advising fully with the president. As
the latter has promised congress to COM
munciate in 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 i'm
probable thai the next step can be taken
bsfore the latter part of the present
month, il SO early.
Fran what is gathered as to the nature
of Lord Salisourv's note, it is assumed
here that it is really calculated that an
issue, which, if allowed TO enter into tho
course OF treatment usual in diplomatic
controversies iIight drift along for an
indefinite period ,of time, since while
there is no abatement of the assertion of
Great Britain's right to the larger por.
tion OF the territory east of the Schum-
psrg line. arguments TO: the first time are
submitted 10 justify this assertion. Here
tofoye all of the facts Ir,ssntcd to our
government concerning tho rightful own
ership OF the disputed territory have
come from Venezuelan sources. The
British government. it is true, has been
afforded frequent opportunities in recent
years to present its case, but never
heretofore has. gone SO far as to admit
that there could be any doubt OF its title,
and therefore has gune on the theory
tnaI tneTe was HOtnlnE 10 arDlt1atc. up
1omatically considered, therefore, this last
move of Salisburys may be regarded as
very clever, for he can easily find rrece-
dents to justify his request that the
British case be considered on its merits.
AS this is oil new TO our government, a
com pliance with the request would in
volve much patient research and COM
rarison o. authorities, maps and sur
veys. This is calculated to consume q
great deal Of time and carry the issue
along 10 period when perhaps Great
Britain, being freed from it's pesent en-
barrassing situation growing out of the
Turkish com plications. Will be able to
devote her entire energies to settlement
OF the Venezuelan question.
There was pretty general discussion
OF venezuelan affairs among the mem-
bers OF the house today. Tne general
conduct of foreign affairs in the house is
that Loru Salisbury's reply will be
cUuched in the most fl iendly terms, and
while expressing Willingness to arbi-
trate as to portion of the disputed ter
ritory, wild deny the right OF t Je United
as to territory the ownership of which
Great Britain claims as hers beyond
dispute; in other words. il is believed
that Great britan's reply will temporlze
with the subject and will simply oren
the way for further correspondence.
."As the correspondence, said promi-
nent Republican member today, Twill
show That this has been Englan!'s posi-
tion and policy for fifty years. she will
seem to yie.d something, put she will
stake oil line beyond which che will
not 20 in the matter of arbitration. That
was Lord Granville's policy; it was Sails. |
hury's. Though, Salisbury is imperious
by inclination, he will be exceedingly |
cautious. The considerations inyoIyed
in an open breach with England or anv. |
thing approaching such are eieantic.
Credits will be immed lately shaken. Thc |
question OF the tariff is of more import.
ance TO reat Britain than the ownersb,p
of a few gold mines in Venezuela. Above
ell things, depend upon it that England
will not by any act Of hers aggrayate an
an.i-English feeling in this country or
give cause, If the most delicate arts of
diplomacy can prevent it, for war acita- |
tiun here. England breads unfavorable
tariff legislation. She knows that the |
first result of bitter anti.Eng;ish feel. |
Ing would be retaliation upon her
through a radical revision of the tariff.
tariff induced by hostility to England,
growing out of England's encroach ments
~ TINS hemisphere, would send 1000, 900 |
ENG to bed without their ppers.
such material considerations England
never overlooks. The loss of our com
merce stopper the war Of 1872"