The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1895-12-21

says: "They Cher majesty's govern.
ment) fully concur with the view
which President Monroe apparently en-.
tertained, that any disturbance Of the
existing territorial distribution in that
hemisphere, by any fresh acquisitions
on the part Of any European state,
would be q highly inexpedient change"
Made = Disinterested Proposal
In the belief that the doctrine for
which we contend was clear and defln.
ite, that it was founded upon substan.
tial considerations and involved our
safety and welfare; that it was fully
applicable to our present conditions,
and to the state of the worlds progress
and that it was directly related to the
pending controversy and without any
conviction as to the final merits of the
dispute, but anxious to learn in q salts.
factory and conclusive manner whether
Great Britain sought under claim of
boundary, to extend her possessions on
this continent without right, or whether
she merely sought possession of territory
fairly included within her lines of
ownership, this government proposed
to the government Of Great Britain q
resort to arbitration as the proper means
of settling the question, to the end that
q vexatious boundary dispute between
the two contestants might be deter
mined and our exact standing and re-
lation in respect to the controversy
might be made clear. Il
Declined Under Unsatisfactory Circum-
It VIII b seen from the correspond.
ence herewith submitted, that this
proposition has been declined by the
British government, upon grounds
which, under the circumstances seem to
me to be far from satisfactory. It is
deeply disappointing that such an ap-
peal, actuated by the most friendly
feelings towards both nations con-
cerned, addressed to the sense Of justice
and to the magnanimity of one Of the
great powers of the world and touching
its relations to one comparatively weak
and small, should have produced no
better results.
Course to Pursue IL Plain.
The course to be pursued by this gov.
ernment, in view Of the present condi.
tion, does not appear to admit of serious
doubts. Having labored faithfully for
many years to induce Great Britain to
submit this dispute to impartial arbi.
tration, and having now been finally
apprised of her refusal to do so, nothing
remains but to accept the situation, to
recognize its plain requirements and
deal with it accordingly.
Great Britain's present proposition
has never thus far been regarded as ad-
missable by Venezuela, though any ad.
justment Of the boundary line which
that country may deem for her advan-
tage and may enter into Of her own free
will, cannot, of course, be objected to
by the United States. I'd
Asks for . Commission.
Assuming, however, that the attitude
of Venezuela remains unchanged, the
dispute has now reached such stage as
to make it incumbent on the United
States to take measures to determine
with sufficient certainty for its justificar
ton, what is the the divisional line be-
tween the Republic Of Venezuela and
British Guiana. The inquiry to that
end should, of course, be conducted
carefully and judicially, and due weight
should be given to all avoilable evi.
dence, records and facts in support Of
the claim Of both parties.
In order that such an examination
should be prosecuted in thorough and
satisfactory. manner, suggest that the
congress make an adequate appropria-
ton for the expenses of commission
to be appointed by the executive who
shall make the necessary investigation
and report upon the matter with the
least possible delay. When such 10.
port is made and accepted, it will, In
INV opinion, be the duty Of the United
States to resist by every means in its
mower, as willful aggression upon its
rights and interests, the appropriation
by Great Britain of any lands or the
exercise Of governmental jurisdiction
over any territory which. after inyesti-
CATION, we have determined OF right
belongs to Venezuela.
Fully Alive to the Consequences.
In making these recommendations,
am fully alive to the responsibility In
CURED and keenly realize all the conse-
uuences that may follow.
I am, nevertheless, firm in my con-
viction that while it is grievous thing
to contemplate the two great English
speaking peoples of the world as being
Otherwise than friendly competi-
tors in the onward march OF
civilization and strenuous and