The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-18

<WAsH1NGToN, Jan. 1.-THE Sonata
on foreign relations Yves in'
session to-day. The only question be-
fore IL VI the legislative affirmation of
the Monroe doctrine, and the discussion
proceeded upon the basis of o resolution
that Senator Davis had prepared under
the instructions of the committee as the
meeting held last Saturday.
The serms Of the resolution are known
only to the members of the commitsee
and the prospects are shat The wording
will NOT BIO known until it shall be
broughti into the Senate.
'~~fhs committee adjourned after yotinf
TO report the Davis resolution with &
few verbal notifications suggested by
he committee. It is understood shat
the resolution will be presented to the
Senate on Monday.
The resolution as drawn by Senator
Davia and adopted by the Senate COM
mtstee will prove to be q clear and
strong enunciation of the Monroe doc
trine when Its text is made public. Il
Is q more ~forceful declaration than any
thai has been introduced in Congress
on this subject and Its terms are 40 ex-
plictt that they oannot be misunder-
stood. The maintenance of the Monroe
doctrine as set forth in the resolution ia
held to be vital Il the welfare OF this
country and the countries of the Amer.
loan continent.
The doctrine, 1t 10 asserted, is now in
force, and has been In force ever since
1t wal established by President Monroe.
The resolution declares IL to mean that
the acquisition by purchase, aggression
or otherwise, OF any territory on the
American continent by 8 foreign power
10 An unfriendly act, and such AGO uisi.
tton Will not be permitted by the United
States.
The most important feature ia that
which touches upon o new phase of the
Venezuelan question, the report shat
England and Venezuela may reach An
agreement and that English money will
settle tho boundary dispute. The reso.
luton declares that In case boundary
disputes on the American governments
are decided by arbitration, agreement or
PURCHASE. the United Stsyes shall be the
sofe5udge as to whether the Monroe
doctrine has been violated in such arbi-
trAtion or agreements.
In fact, 1t means that arbitration or
agreement between foreign vernmen
and governments on the American con-
tinent ss to boundary disputes cannot
become binding or effective unless
sanctioned by the United States and,
tina this Government ia satisfied that
no part OF the American continents has
been coded to q foreign power by such
arbitration or agreement. This
practically makes the United States the
arbitrator between foreign governments
and those of the American continents in
all boundary disputes.
This portion of the resolution is COM
sidered most important and ~far.reaching
In It's effects. 1t caused m~isapprehens
sion among some members of the COM
mtttee as 1t Is claimed that 1t may lead
to many entanRlements. On the other
hsnu the supporters of the resolution
say that 1t leaves avery thing In tho
hands Of the United States as to what
the final decision should be, and that
the United States will interfere only
when the Monroe doctrine has been
violated.
The resolution is drawn with q view
OF covering every possible contingency
that May arise in boundary disputes, or
the acquisition or the sale of territory
by one foreign government 20 another
on the American continent, or islands
that are considered 8 part OF the West
efn hemisphere.