New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11
THE FOOIISUNESS OF WAR.

THE FOOLlSHNESS OF WAR.
AN Elk MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GIVES REASONS
WHY ENGLAND AND AMERICA SHOULD
NOT FIGHT
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: AS your able and influential iourna. has rem
dered incaculabe service to the cause Of the main
tenance of the peace which has now lasted for up
ward OF three genera lions between Great Britain
and Great America. by your repeated and powerful
articles against account Of a rumper,
Venezuelan boundary question and as you have
shown that you do not hold with the pernicous
and heatherish saying "Our country right or
wrong" | venture to offer YOU a second letter OF
the present lamentable. unexpected and eXtraordi-
nary crisis. with reference to the extended Mon
roe doctrine II has been clearly shown by articles
and letters in "The Times and other news
papers. which have not been and can
not be refuted. that the Monroe Doctrine,
II 1t were, il Is not. part Of international
aw is not applicable to the Venezuelan boundary
quest on for many one Of these Is that
Great Britain is doing nothing whatever in Nenez-
uela in the shape Of taking possession OF any ne"
territory. % extending her BOUNDARIES there be
yonG the limits she has occupied for upward OF
eighty years. ana there Is not jot more reason
FOR the American Intervention now than th'r
has been during this long period Of four-iifths %.
a century.
Even If this insignificant question did come undoi
the Monroe Doctrine and the continued possession
of territory mp L. the Schomburgk line constituted
danger the United States (Which Is evidently alb
surd,. surely the danger was much greater in, say
1890 which years after the promulsa-
ton os that doctrine
TO me it seems that the time when the Tnite
States might well have made friendly diplomat
Intervention between Great Britain and Nenezue.a
in 1876 when Venezuela offered TO accept the
Morocco line. which Lord Aberdeen proffered in iSl
which kept open for their acceptance for s'N
eral years ana which We then most unwiseiy d'-
clined
The essence OF the Monroe Doctrine IL that ~
Power should be allowed TO annex any part OF tn
territory OF any OF the feeble, volcanic ana re'o-
luii5nary Spanish American Republics; yet me
United states annexed New-Mexico Texas and
California. territories containing +@S1S square
miles. or nearly great an extent as Great hr''-
ain. France and Germany together, when contain
551.oG square miles
1t is suggested that the whole question Of the
Venezuelan boundary should be referred 10 arbitra-
ton, though England has finally declined 10 refer
any portion on the British side OF the Schombursk
line ana cannot with honor conceie more than the
Morocco line; and he proposes that II the drhiier
awards any portion Of territory now occupied hy
British subjects to Venezuela Great Britain should
buy that portion of territory from n'zued. i'ut
probably Venezuela would not bc willing 10 sell II
Tor any reasonable sum. Besides, If the posses
sion Of this additional territory is danger to the
United states TO sIcn an extent that IL is necessary
for the Americans 10 70 10 war. how can tns RISK
Another writer IN THE Times suggests thar If
mn arbter awarded some Of the territory now
occupied by British subjects to Venezuela. then
that country shouli purchase at a fair valuation
persons who objected to become Venezuelan citi-
- such stipulation as she IS nearly bankrupt
Anoiher question here arises. namely. suppose
that Tho boundary line r,cpmmonicd by the pro
lo',d american Commission is rejected both n
Great Britain and Nenczu"l1. viii The United ate
70 TO war win both Gou1tri.s and docs she clam
phhNC+ Tx IN" French Over Madagascar. CO.. ont
INK t. refer he ~Ao.o boundary To- arbitration i,r
should remember mat in ~ ihey refused g., b. .,g
zion bat insisted or limiting !; 10 th. sins. qu.
ton ~ the Illro or the Rosario Channel Again.
the afbitcr in The Bshring "a question: o.. blI .o
provide ihs paiiry sum WIS thrown on In fhc
House Of Representatives ana not one mrthine
When the ~. War in the rniteI states was
,b 1amaee dor~ by soniherr priy,rers az
scabcard cities ana bio kadcd her por,s tho dam
SEA would be almost cntir..y stopped Tho exports
from England by about ts,plDoo. ana his qoglI
the importation and sale Of all American produce
brought in neutral vessels American priyaicrrs
cause England has sufficient coaiins r.aiions aaI
on The Other h4nd f EnsaRd en- e2sy get all The
Countries. ana Egypt ana India; which already send
casfy scnt much more Ifs unfortuna,ey '% v,r
should cusuc. surely Canada. which has no iuf.ros
1n, |i I'm fbD ouarr" II h,ichi IT, 'o"a l', ~
the British troops should be- during the war with
1rnmcnt should bind themselves 10 stri.t neutral
lty during thu war Ia which America would have no
10000 Canadians who are attached b. sontlmon,
IA. hot Eurlaul and