Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-04-12

England Does Not Regard the United
States ms Having Any Proper Inter
est in the Matter = United States
Might Declare Protectorate.
WASHINGTON, April 5.-There is rea-
son to believe that the British govern
ment has given Ambassador Bayard to
understand, in response to his sugges-
ton that the Venezuelan boundary mat
ter be submitted to arbitration, that it
must persist in regarding the subject as
one in which Great Britain and Vene-
zuela alone are concerned. OF course
the idea was set out very automatically
and courteously, SO as to avoid giving
offense as far as possible, while still
making it plain that the United States
could not be regarded as having any
proper interest in the matter. So, as it
stands, the British government still in
sists upon its absolute title and right to
occupy all the territory to the eastward
of the Schomberg line, while protesting
willingness to submit to arbitration
its claims to the lands west OF that line.
This was the offer made to Venezuela
years ago, and it has not been modified
in any respect since, Notwithstanding
Mr.. Bayard's efforts. 1t has been init
mated that the United States might &C.
quire right to intervene in behalf of
Venezuela by declaring a protectorate
over that country, with the assent of
that country, and behind this suggestion
is at least one of the great European
countries who would be glad to have its
relations with the disturbed countries of
South America and Central America
placed on a stable basis, SO that it might
look to some thoroughly responsible,
highly civilized government to insure
| che permanency OF trade and prevent
| frequent revolutions. But to concede
the necessity for such protectorate as
prerequisite to prevent the acquisition
of American territory by an European
power would amount to remuneration
of the Monroe doctrine by the United
| States, and this cannot be contemp plated
by the administration. There are indi-
cations that British foreign officials are
willing to discuss this feature of the case
with Mr.. Bayard at length, and so things
may drag along for many months unless
a collision occurs between the British
and Venezuelan forces in the disputed
territory, or the Minnesota syndicate
forces negotiations by beginning opera
tions under the large concession it has
obtained from Venezuela of lands in
that territory.
The apparent effects OF Mr.. Bayard's
efforts are being watched with intense
interest by all the diplomatic represent
atives of tine South American countries
stationed in Washington. One of these
representatives in speaking on the sub
ject said majority OF the South Ameri-
can republics were staggering under for
cign debts, and were unable longer to
meet their obligations. The question
confronting these countries is whether
the United States will stand by and al
low the creditor nations to collect these
debts by force. Meanwhile, to strength
en- their claim for protection upon the
United States, there is in progress
among the smaller and weaker REPUBLICS
a movement to entangle their interests
with our own, so as to make it a matter
of deep concern to our people should
any European power attack them.