Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-12-26

never thus far been regarded as admissible
by Venezuela, though any adjustment of the
boundary which that country may deem for
own free will cannot of course be objected
to by the United States. Assuming, how
ever, that the attitude of Venezuela will
such stage as to make it now incumbent
upon the United States to take measures
to determine with sufficient certainty for
line between the republic of Venezuela and
British Guiana. The inquiry to that end
should Of course be conducted carefully and
to all available evidence, records and facts
In support Of the claims Of both parties.
A Commission to Investigate.
In order that such an examination should
be prosecuted in thorough and satisfac-
tory manner, / suggest that the Congress
expenses Of commission to be appointed
by the executive, who shall make the neces-
sary investigation and report upon the mat
ter with the least possible delay. When
in my opinion, be the duty Of the United
States to resist by every means in its
power as wilful aggression upon its rights
Britain Of any lands or the exercise of gov.
ernmentaf jurisdiction over any territory
which after investigation we have deter
mined of right belong to Venezuela.
In making these recommendations / am
fully alive to the responsibility incurred
and keenly realize all the consequences that
may follow.
am nevertheless firm in my conviction
that while it is "a grievous thing to con-
temple the two great Engish-speaking peo-
pies of the world as being otherwise than
friendly competitors in the onward march
of civilization and strenuous and worthy
rivals in all the arts Of peace, there is no
calamity which great nation can invite
which equals that which follows a supine
submission to wrong and injustice and the
consequent loss of national self-respect and
honor, beneath which is shielded and de-
Tended peoples safety "a and q, greatness y1nI
Executive Mansion. Dec. II. 1895.
Olney's Note and Salisbury's Reply.
Accompanying the Presidents mes
sage is the correspondence on the sub
ject. 1t starts with Secretary Olney's
now celebrated note reopening the nego-
tiations with Great Britain looking to
the arbitration Of the boundary dispute,
dressed to Mr.. Bayard. The secretary
thoroughly reviews the situation and in
plain language warns the British govern
ment that the United States will not per-
NIT any seizure of South American ter
ritory by foreign power.
Lord Salisbury answers Secretary VI
ney in two notes, both of date July 70.
The first is devoted entirely to reply to
that portion of the note relating to the
Monroe doctrine which he says has never
before been made the subject of writ
ten communication by the United States
to another government, although it has
largely influenced American foreign re-
lations. He expressly declines to accept
the Monroe doctrine, saying that it par
takes of no form of international law.
The second note, dated also July 26,
deals entirely with the boundary dispute
on it's merits beginning with statement
that Great Britain does not recognize
that any other country has material
interest in the controversy, yet makes
the statement in this fashion because,
owing to the rupture of diplomatic rela-
tons, it is not otherwise possible to COM
municate it to the Venezuelan govern