Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-02
VIEWS OF SENATOR GRAY.

He Expresses Some Opinions About the
Venezuela Question and tho Duties OF
the Proposed Commission.
New York World, December 25th.
Senator Gray of Delaware is the most
devoted friend and champion of the
President in the Senate. He is also a
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee to which in time must be re-
ferred the Venezuelan commissions re-
port. The World correspondent sub
mitted in writing to Senator Gray to.
day three questions which the whole
country has been asking;
Q. did the Senator endorse the
Presidents statements as to the Monroe
doctrine and accept his conclusions
when it granted his request for COM
mission"
Senator Gray's reply: II cannot
answer except by saying that l presume
it intended to-"
@. "Do you think that England is
bound to accept boundary in South
America which we dictate?''
a. Gas understand the position of
this government in regard to the ap-
pointment of a commission, it is that
the facts may be ascertained for the
information of the government by which
| mean the executive and Congress, in
regard to the disputed frontier between
Venezuela and British Guiana. This
| information, as | understand it. is
solely to inform the conscience of the
government and the American people,
ard it could not have been expected
that its conclusions were binding upon
either of the disputants except so far
as the justice and accuracy of these
conclusions might appeal to the com
mon sense of both countries. The
United States does not assume by
this commission to delimit frontier
for Great Britain, but to ascertain
for itself whether there ia any design
by Great Britain, under the pretext
of boundary dispute. TO aggrandize
its own territory at the expense of Ven
ezuela. The suggestion of the Presi-
dents message and Of the act of Con
gress entirely supports this view. The
language of the act is as follows: 'Foi
the expenses of commission to be ap
pointed by the President to investigate
and report upon the true divisional line
between the republic of Venezuela and
British Guiana. With bona fide
boundary dispute between British
Guiana and Venezuela l do not think
that the United States has anything
to do. And to such bona fide dis
pute do not believe the Monroe doc
trine applies. IL the investigation pro
posed should make the contrary appeal
II mean that Great Britain, under the
color and pretence of boundary dis
pute, was seeking to appropriate terri
tory that rightfully belonged to Venez
uela, it would be for this country to de
termine whether it would stand by anC
sec a weak sister republic in thii
hemisphere oppressed by the unequa
and overwhelming power of its antag'
onist. y
O. "After the threat of the Presi
dents message can this government bt
considered disinterested arbitrator
and iudge?"
A. GAS to the third question, un'
doubtedly the proposition is and wai
that an unbiased arbitrator be appoint
ed to settle the disputed frontiers be
tween Venezuela and British Guiana,
and do not understand that the United
States insists on being or would con.
sent to be such arbitrator. sin
cerely regret, as l believe my country
men do, that this matter should no
have been submitted to the peaceful
eolution of arbitration, method which
the advanced civilization and best in
telligence of the world must commend.
Such submission would be as honor
able and creditable to Great Britain al
it would be beneficent to the highes
interests of humanity
Senator Gray conferred with groul
of Democratic Senators before making
his replies, which it is believed revea
the hitherto suppressed Democrats
sentiment of the Senate.