St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-08
DIGNIFIED AND HONORABLE WAX
OUT OF THE VENEZUELAN
IMBROGLIO.
A TREATY OF ARBITRATION.
ONE INTENDED TO COVER All.
QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT
ARISE.
HEN APPLY 1T TO THIS ONE.
If Salisbury Is Willing, There Is No
Doubt America Would Read
lily Agree.

LONDON. Jan. Henry Norman, special
commissioner of the Daily Chronicle, cables
MS paper from Washington as follows:
Ihere is one way Of settling the whole
arIncuity fraught with honor to both gov
ernments and with results Of priceless worth
10 Doth peoples. The present delay consists
IN the fact that the United States govern
ment considers itself in honor bound TO in
slsl upon certain course, which the Brit
ism government considers itself IL honor
pound to refuse to adopt. Every day spent
mere mas convinced me more strongly that it
Is Impossible to exaggerate the seriousness
OF such an international situation. II the
British public is misled by the optimistic
sentiments OF New York, it may find itself
suddenly race to face with an appalling dan
ger. II the American government act only in
the belief that, because Great Britain is
threatened with an European crisis therefore
she Will knuckle down to any American de-
mand it may suddenly discover that the
european crisis has blown over and that
war with England is on its hands. In all
the government departments here the situa-
ton is regarded very serious despite every
effort in behalf of peace.
Now. the kernel of the dispute being the
principle of arbitration, the solution may be
say that, although he must MAINTAIN his re-
fusai to arbitrate on Venezuela by itself, he
is prepared to conclude a treaty with the
United States under which all questions fail
ing of diplomatic settlement shall be sub
mitted to arbitration, and that this, of course
would include Venezuela, a., the greater in
the less, lnS american RO.3' nllelt
know will receive his communication with
warm sympathy. Herein is a dignifie1, and
indeed, the most simple and friends escape
from the deadlock. Remember that 4 resolu-
ton to this effect was adopted by congress on
April a. 1880, and responded TO by e resoiu-
ton of the house of commons. supported in
its decision by Mr.. Gladstone. June 16,
1893. A second joint resolution of CONGRESS
was introduced in the senate by Senator Al
lison on June 20, 1884, and referred 10 the
committee on foreign affairs, where it still
remains.
IN THE WAY
1.-TWO things block the way The first is
that, II any arbitration treaty was ever I'M
der discussion, 1t was laid aside when con-
gress by refusing those $450000, temporarily
invalidated the Paris Boring sea commission
award. But, as / have already cabled, a
treaty is partly concluded to which America,
Canada and the British ambassador in Wash
ington have all assented, placing this mat
ter in direct way of settlement. I observe
that the statement Is today cabled from Lon
don that this treaty is blocked by Canada S
refusal The statement is entirely baseless.
Canada has formally and finally agreed. 1t
only awaits the assent Of the foreign office
for this treaty to become operative. l reas-
sert, there is both surprise and regret felt
here at the delay. 1t is urgently desirable
that this treaty be pressed forward. AS soon
as this is done. the first difficulty will have
'The second difficulty is the English feel
ing that any action taken now would appear
to be due to American threats. In reply to
lliiS II b Qulle. certain tnaC neither President
cleveland nor Mr.. Olney consider themselves
to be threatening England. They only de-
sired, after years OF fruitess diplomatic dis
country clear beyond the chance of further
misunderstanding. If Lord Salisbury has any
doubts upon this point. an inquiry through
the regular diplomatic channels Mr.
Bayard or Sir Julian Pauncefote will, I am
convinced, dispel this notion that the Ameri-
can government deliberately adopted a men
aclng attitude not proper in diplomatic COM
munlCat1OnS Moreover If Sal ic
aggrieved by the expressions of the American
government; the American government in its
by Lord Saisbury's tone and his virtual
pooh-poohing doctrine which they had for
merry declared they regarded as vital to the
national welfare. Therefore these Sentiments
balance each other, and there is every ground
for mutual agreement and assurances that no
oHenSe was intended.
SALISBURY CAN SAY IT
These two are the only things in the way
OF leadlng to grand recognition before the
whole world of the principle of arbitration
tween civilized nations The British public
are ready. l am confident that the American
pubic are equally ready, and 1 know that
the American government is ready This
being so, what blocks the way to almost i'm
mediate removal of Venezuela from the field
or international discussion, and to complete
restoration OF cordial relations between two
peoples, who, while only too ready to fight
FOR principle, are even reader to agree upon
civilized settlement henceforth and forever i?
II Lord Salisbury is able to move diplomat
1cally in the direction Indicated it is GER
tain that the meeting of the Venezuelan com
mission would be instantly adjourned until
the time was ripe for common discussion Of
the question when the treaty should become
a law.
II Will only add, if it were in my last
words, that it would be lamentable mistake
for England to believe that there is any di-
vision of opinion worth considering in this
country. Washington, far more than New
York, is the pulse of the United States, and
1 have been feeling that pulse for over a
week, and | assert, despite criticism or con-
tradiction, that America will speak practical
ly one voice In support of the cabinet in the
Venezuelan matter. If Lord Salisbury decides
that it is impossible to take any step let him
and England, at least recognize what is the
alternative"
An editorial in the Chronicle justifies
Americas aspiration to dominate the
formation of international law on the
American continent, as England in hel
time dominated Europe. 1t must be rec
ogniZed that America never acquired
an inch Of civilized territory without
the consent of it's owner.