The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-01-16
VENEZUELA TROUBLE
Let England Recognize the
Alternative.
A SETTLEMENT Is SUGGESTED
The Chronicles Correspondent Would
Have Salisbury Enter Into an a
Arbitration Treaty.

Have Salisbury Enter Into an a
Arbitration Treaty.
London, Jan. 9-Henry Norman,
special correspondent of the Chronicle,
cabled his paper from Washington, D.
c., as follows:
There is heroic way of settling
the whole difficulty, fraught with honor
to both governments, and with results
of priceless worth to both people. The
present delay consists in the fact that
the United States government considers
itself honor bound to insist upon a GER
tain course, which the British govern
ment considers itself honor bound to
refuse to adopt. Every day spent here
has convinced me strongly that it is
impossible to exaggerate the serious
ness of such an international battle.
Now the kernel of the dispute being
the principle of arbitration, the solu-
ton may be found therein also. If
Lord Salisbury will say that he must
maintain his refusal to arbitrate with
Venezuela by itself, but is preparing
to conclude treaty with the United
States, under which all questions fail
ing of diplomatic settlement shall be
submitted to arbitration, and this, of
course, would include Venezuela as the
greater includes the less, the American
government, l know, will receive his
communication with warm sympathy.
Here is the dignifed, and, indeed, the
most simple and friendly, escape from
the deadlock.
Remember, that resolution to this
effect was adopted by congress on April
4, 1890, and responded to by resolu-
ton of the house of commons, support
ed in their decision by Mr.. Gladstone,
on June 16, 1898.
1.-TWO things block the way. The
first is that if any arbitration treaty
was ever under discussion, it was laid
aside when congress, by refusing that
$3.50, 900, temporarily invalidated the
Paris Behring sea commission award.
The second difficulty is the English
feeling that any action taken now
would appear to be due to American
threats. In reply to this, it is quite
certain that neither President Cleveland
nor Secretary Olney considers that he
is threatening England. They only
desired, after years of friutless diplo-
matte discussion, to make the attitude
of their own country clear beyond the
chance of further misunderstanding.
elf Lord Salisbury is aggrieved by
the expression of the American govern
ment, the American government, in its
turn, considers itself legitimately
aggrieved by Lord Salisbury's tone
and his virtual pooh-poohing doc
trine which they had formally declared
they regarded as vital to the national
welfare. Therefore, these sentiments
balance each other. and there is much
ground for mutual agreement and as
surances that no offense was intended.
eff Lord Salisbury is able to remove
automatically in the direction indi-
Gated, it is certain that the meeting OF
the Venezuela commission will be in
stantly adjourned until the time is ripe
for common discussion of the question
when the treaty should become law.
I will add, as if it were my last words,
that it would be lamentable mistake
for England to believe there is any
division of opinion worth considering
in this country. Washington, far
more than New York, is the pulse OF
the United States, and l have been
feeling that pulse for over week, and
assert, despite criticism or contradic-
ton, that America will speak with
practically one voice in support OF the
cabinet in the Venezuela matter.
eff Lord Salisbury decides that it
is impossible to take any step, let him
and England at least recognize what is
the alternative.
IL L.