The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-21

Debate in the British Parliament.

Debate in the British Parliament.
: Tho British House Of Commons had
II debate Monday that piles on fresh
proof Of the determination OF that
country to back down from Salisbury
arrogant position and settle the Ven
czuclan question honorably and peace
ably, by negotiation or arbitration.
Tho dobate was brought on by an
amendment to the Queen 3 address
moved by l.. Atherly Jones, Il radi.
cal, declaring explicitly for arbitration
as proposed by tho United States. He
pointed out that Great Britain had
seven times changed her boundary
claim and declared that it was ridicu-
lous to claim now that any part of it
is outside tho palc of arbitration. Mr..
Balfour, the government leader in the
Commons appealed to him to withdraw
| the amendment, assuring him and the
house that the subject was in the way
of satisfactory adjustment and such a
declaration could do no good, and its
only effect would be to embarass the adj
ministration. Vim. Allen and Henry
Labouchcrc, advanced Radicals, and
John Dillon, anti Parncllite, supported
the position of peace with earnest
speeches, though Laioucherc didn't
want to embarass the administration.
Dillon insisted that the American
people ought to have some indication
of the intensity of the feeling existing
in the House of Commons against the
mere suggestion of war with the
United States. He was glad to note tho
recent improved tone of public opln-
ion. Even Lord Salisbury had turned
his attention to insulting somewhat
smaller nation than the United States.
Ii the ministry tried to plunge the
country into war for an unjust cause
by refusing 10 grant arbitration, he
had the right to claim that there
would arise from millions of English
men voice of strongest possible con
domination. "
Sir William Vernon IIarcourt, the
Liberal leader, did not think the
amendment ought to be insisted on as
the best way of accomplishing the
purpose with which he fully sympa- |
thized. If made a ministerial issue !
and voted down, it would go forth to
America that the House had pro
nounced against arbitration, although !
he was convinced that that was the end
that all wished to be attained. What
tho House had to do was TO show that
there was no difference of opinion on
the subject. He was perfectly certain
that both inside and outside of the
House the consensus Of opinion was in
favor of peaceful arbitration. Their
main object ought to be to express
such an opinion. 1t could not be done
by Joining issue on the amendment
He took the opportunity to dfp-ccate
he language sometimes used alleging
hat President Cleveland had acted
There seemed to be a tendency. he
aid, in certain quarters to think that
he United States had acted in a
udden, offensive manner. Al a mat
er of fact, they had been pressing for
settlement of the question for the
asst 10 years, always in a most friend.
y spirit. Every effort ought to be
lade to remove ALI causes of irrita
ion. He trusted that there would be
o further delay and that everything :
'ould be done to bring about speedy
ettlement. He appealed to Mr.. Ath r
rly Jones to withdraw is amendment, e
hich was done, the speaker checking :
n attempt on the part of the Irish
lembers to continue the discussion. Il
The LondonTimosTuesday published
plan for the settlement of the diff u
Guilty which it expects TO be adopted -
3 one that Britain could honorably y
ccept. Il
The plan is substantially tho crca- Ia
on Of a new joint commission to con- h
st of two Englishmen and two .,
mericans who would be charged with ~
the facts and with re i
orting thereon to the British and =.
merican cabinets, If "a majority of !,
10 commission could not agree on a "
port neutral fifth member might be 81
The commission g finding 81
! matters of facts would be binding =,
] both countries and could serve as -,
10 basis for subsequent negotiations u, ~
etween all concerned. Should the a.
agotiations fail there would be an -,
timate arbitration by a tribunal to p,
> composed for instance of the chief ",
stces OF Great Britain and the "
nitod States with perhaps neutral e oG
ird member ~