Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
It is Coming to the Front in the Venszue-
Ian Question.
State Department Gathering Data
MIR. Livingston Talks About Bring
ing Up the Matter.

Interest in the Venezuelan question is
constantly growing in official circles. The
leading advocates of the Monroe doctrine
are taking such action that it will be i'm
possible to relegate this question to the
background. and it must come forward
Either the administration will take the in
tiative and enforce the Monroe doctrine.
the matter will be taken up in Congress
ard its enforcement worked for there.
Collecting Data.
1t IS learned on the best authority that
the State Department is now engaged in
collecting all data bearing on the Venezue-
Ian boundary dispute, with view to be in
readiness to act at the proper time. 1t is
learned from semi-official sources that not
long ago, when this matter was being dis
eussed by the President and several of his
friends, that Mr.. Cleveland said that he
proposed to enforce the Monroe doctrine.
and referring to the Venezuelan boundary
dispute Indicated his intention to take some
action in due time looking to the carrying
out of the great American principle of hav-
ing the monarch:eS of the old world keep
tEefr hands off the western continent. Rep
resentative Livingston of Georgia is now in
the city, and was seen by Star reporter
today.
Mr.. LivfnEston's Intention.
This whole Venezuelan question" said
The entire American public is in sympathy
with enforcing the Monroe doctrine, and 1
know that Congress is alive to the necessity
for action to that end. I hope to see the
administration take some action in this
matter before Congress meets. But if IT
does not, will introduce a resolution in
the House of Representatives which will
recite the resolution passed by the last Con-
gress, asking that Great Britain arbitrate
the Fenezulan boundary dispute and ask
what, If anything, has been done looking to
such arbitration. The resolution will also
provide for the appointment of committee
consisting of three members of the House
and two Senators. with power TO make
complete investigation of the ques-
tion. This action will not he taken with
any intention of unfriendy feeling toward
the administration because it has not act
ed In the matter. but merely because Con-
SrsSS having failed to receive any reply to
its resolution Of the past session is inter-
ested in knowing what has been done, and
in becoming acquainted with all the facts
which should be in its possession"
Vigorous Foreign Policy. -.-s
The Monroe doctrine Is daily being looked
upon by leaders of the democratic and re-
publican parties as a matter of the great
est Importance, not only as q principle to
be enforced, but as a means of securing
the Endorsement of the people throughout
the country. 1t is also believed among
large demands vigorous foreign policy,
which shall hold in check ambitious gov
ernments of Europe in their schemes for
extending their territory on this side of
the Atlantic. 1t is generally thought that
the party which fails to do this will receive
condemnation on all hands. and partly for
this reason the leaders of each of the
great parties look forward to receive the
credit for vigorously upholding the Monroe
doctrine.
Secretary Olncy Will Not Talk.
Secretary Olney positively refuses to say
anything touching any correspondence he
has had or intends to have relative to the
settlement of the Venezuelan boundary
dispute, SO it cannot be positively ascer-
tanned whether he has recently taken any
steps to induce Great Britain to submit
the matter to arbitration. 1t can be
stated, however, that since Secretary
Gresham's death and up to very recent
date the department had not made a single
move in that direction. But inasmuch as
Congress has, by resolution. directed the
executive to use its best efforts to bring
the dispute to arbitration it is very probs-
BILE that having in mind the near approach
of the assembling of Congress Secretary
OlEey has been giving the subject the at
ter tion it demands and is formula ting his
views, to be communicated to Ambassador
Bayard upon the return of the latter from
his vacation in Scotland.
Probable Mode of Procedure.
Moreover as the preceding letters of the
late Secretary Gresham on this subject,
also based on the resolution of Congress.
appear to have failed to secure action by
the British government, whose only re-
spcnse was reiteration Of their willing
ness to arbitrate the title to lands included
within supplementary claims, and outside
Of the vast tract which the Venezuelans
assert have been seized from them, Sec
retary Olney may feel that the time has
come to m AXE a more forciDle presentation
than the mere statement that the United
States would welcome a submission of the
question to arbitration. AS diplomacy has
many steps between the initiation Of an
incident and declaration of war, 1t is
possible. following ordinary usage, 10 set
out such a view in terms, which, while
still forcible, shall be entirely courteous
and in TO degree approaching an ultimat-
Im, and such will undoubtedly be the na-
turc of Secretary Oiney's letter This must
be done in order that some proper return
may be made to Congress in December
next, but further than that the Secretary
is not likely to proceed, for as an ultimatum
is really step toward war, to deliver
such might be regarded as an infringement
of the constitutional right of Congress-