The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-18
LORD SALISBURY.
Ironically He Says Monroe Doctrine Does
Not Apply to the Case.

Ironically He Says Monroe Doctrine Does
Not Apply to the Case.
Lord salisbury's reply is addressed to
dor at Washington, under date of Novem-
Der 26 last. This dealt only with the APP
plicstion Of the Monroe Doctrine in the
case at issue, and was followed on the
same day by another note discussing the
boundary dispute.
At the outset Lord Salisbury stated that
so far al he is aware the Monore doctrine
has never been before advanced on behalf
OF the United States In any written
communication addressed to the govern
ment of another nation. He gives what
he believes is the British Interpretation
of the doctrine and maintains that the
dangers that were unprecedented by Presi-
dent Monroe have no relation to the state
of things in which we live at the present
day.
The dispute between Breat Britain and
Venezuela, AYERS Lord Salisbury, is a
controversy with which the United States
has not apparent practical concern.
Continuing in short, pithy sentences,
he says it is difficult indeed to see how
the question in controversy can materi-
ally affect any state or community out
side those primarily interested, that the
disputed frontier of Venezuela has moth
AhS W 0O Wiuu etAJ Va UuO Y uohulDA6 u6ttlu
with by President Munroe. 1t is, he says,
simply the determination of the frontier
of British possession which belonged
to the throne of England, long before the
republic of Venezuela came into exis-
tence.
AS he proceeds in the discussion. the
language of Lord Salisbury becomes tart.
He argues on the theory that the Mon
roe doctrine in itself Is sound, but dis
claims any intention of being understood
as expressing any acceptance of it on the
part Of Her Majesty's government. He
quotes Mr.. Olney as saying THAT dis
tanoe and 8, 600 miles of intervening ocean
make any political union between a
European and an American state unnat-
ural aud inexpedient, will hardly be de-
nied'' and adds that the necessary mean
Ing of these words is that the Union be-
tween Greao Britain and Canada, between
Great Britain aud British Honduras or
British Guiana are ''inexpedient and
unnatural. -
President Munroe, says his Lordship,
disclaims any such inference from his
doctrine, but in this, as in other respects,
Mr.. Olney develops 1t.
He lays down, says Lord Salisbury,
that the expedient and unnatural char
aoter of the union between European
and an American state is 80 obvious
that it will hardly be denied. Her Majes-
try's government are prepared empha-
tically to deny it on behalf of both the
British and American people who ere
subject to her crown. They maintain that
the union between Great Britain and her
territories in the western hemisphere is
both natural and expedient.
The second note of November 90 is
wholly devoJed to discussion of the
boundary dispute exclusive of it's relation
to the Monroe doctrine.
This despatch, however, sounds the
keynote OF Great Britain's position with
reference to Mr.. Olney's representations.
Lord Salisbury stated that Great Britain
has repeatedly expressed it's readiness to
submit to arbitration the conflicting
claims of Great Britain to territory Of
great mineral value, and follows this
statement with these important words:
But they (The British government
cannot consent to entertain or to submit
to the arbitration Of another, claims
based on extravagant pretentions of
involving the transfer of large numbers
of British subjects who have for many
years enjoyed the settled rule of the Brit
ish colony to nation of-different race
and language, whose political System is
subject to frequent disturbance and
whose institutions too often
afford very inadequate protection to life
ana properly. mo lssu9 VI tAis uescrlp-
tion has been involved in the questions
which Great Britain and the United
States have consented to submit to arbi-
tration and Her Majesty's government
are convinced that In similar oiroumstan-
ces the government of the United States
would be equally firm in declining to
en- terrain proposals Of such a nature"
Lord Salisbury concludes by refusing
to submit the question to arbitration.
In the Senate the reading of the Presi.
DENTS message was concluded amid ap-
plause ON both sides of the chamber, al
though it was more pronounced ON the
Republican side. Senator German said
to reporter: sit is an emphatic Ameri
can message"