The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19

American waters now TO be used for the
purpose OF overawlng Venezuela, If that
were the intention, without sending an
other SQUADRON, while the idea OF using
the ships to brighten the United States IS
secuted as absurd.
Some mixing OF Rear Admiral Dale's
instructions has certainly transpired. Re-
port saws that the fleet will proceed to
either Bridgetown, Barbados, or to Port
of Spain. Island of Trinidad, which lies
directly north of Venezuela.
The officials at the Admiralty, when
questioned on the subject, protest that
they are in entire ignorance of where the
squadron viii be sent; but it can be
stated that within the Admiralty circles it
is taken that, as it has been decided to
send the vessels TO the southwest, the
course will be somewhere near Venezuela.
The squadron is commiss Toned for three
wears, and it is not intended that it shall
be stationed long at any one point.
Unless the Government shall be able to
announce in the Queens speech. which
will be read at the opening of the coming
session OF Parliament, that there is
definite prospect of the difficulty with
the question OF arbitration will be
the leading amendment to the adj
dress in reply 10 the speech. As large
section of the Conservatives coincide with
the Liberals regarding arbitration, the
Ministers viii have to be provided with
3 satisfactory explanation of the whole
course of their dealings with the Govern
ment at Washington or risk q division,
which. despite their mechanical majority,
viii shake the position Of the Government.
The sending Of the flying squadron to
the West Indies Will not strengthen public
confidence in Prime Minister Salisbury.
The report that tae squadron will go to
either Barbados or Trinidad seems so
contrary to prudence that outside of naval
circles il IS received with incredulity. The
latest report from Portsmouth is that the
squadron will leave Spithead on Tuesday
next and VIII probably proceed to Gibral-
tar, where il Will await further orders.
The opinion is held in some quarters
that, having rushed its concentration to
sootbe the country during the anti
German fever, the main purpose has been
served and the squadron can now patrol
the seas waiting for events that may
transpire anywhere.
The Speaker says: If Congress indorses
the new Monroeism and the United States
Government demands Great Britains &C
oeptance thereof it would be equivalent to
declaring war, for Great Britain would
never submit TO make a virtue of the sur
render of her possessions in the United
States until she had exhausted all her re-
sources OF resistance.
The & lanes Gazafta saVc. II +ba
Americans insist upon the new Monroe
doctrine, rendering the United States the
absolute and irresponsible arbiter of af-
fairs on & continent one-third of which is
British, what can be done? Great Britain
cannot avert the consequences by yielding,
The issue Of peace or war lies with the
Americans, not Us. 1t is misleading OPP
timlsm to pretend anything else.
Sir Augustus Hemming, the new Gov
ernor OF British Guiana, Will sail for
Georgetown on February %. He will be
authorized to negotiate with Venezuela
for a settlement of the boundary dispute
II the latter assents to treat with him.
There is reason TO state that prior to ar
rival a Georgetown overtures will be
made through the Brazilian Government
10 the Government at Caracas, which it Is
expected viii bring Sir Augustus in direct
communication with the Venezuelan Gov
eminent.
The Foreign Office ignores the Vene-
zuelan consulate here in matters of diplo-
macy, so the consulate, OF course, knows
nothing officially of what is going on
Nevertheless, it can be stated on good au-
thority that LORD Salisbury is endeavorlng,
through a neutral power, 10 resume direct
negotiations with Venezuela, and will pro-
pose the appointment of joint commits
sion 10 delimit the frontier. Should this
commission fail to reach a complete
agreement, the points in dispute will be
referred TO third power for decision.